Confirmed: MW2 Biggest Launch Ever

Guinness World Records has confirmed what we already knew – that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the most successful entertainment launch of all time.

The game released on November 10th, 2009 with verified one day sales totaling more than $401.6 million (242.4 million) worldwide, breaking the previous record set by Grand Theft Auto IV, which grossed $310 million (159 million) in its first day on sale in 2008, and the previous record-holder, Halo 3, which took in $170 million (84 million) in its first 24 hours on sale.

"Video game releases such as the Call of Duty series have outperformed the launches of major Hollywood blockbusters for several years and the day-one sales for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 proved once again that video games have become cultural events in their own right," said Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition Editor, Gaz Deaves. "The fan movement and hype surrounding this game in the run-up to launch was almost unprecedented in scale; we acknowledged early on that the big question wasn’t if it would break all-time entertainment records, but rather by how much."

"This achievement is a reflection of the support from our community of fans around the world," said Creative Strategist, Robert Bowling from developer Infinity Ward. "The Call of Duty series and Modern Warfare have been our passion – we’ve dedicated our lives to giving our best, so it’s an honour to be recognised by setting a new standard among all entertainment properties."