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Modern Warfare 2 outsold Avatar, claims developer

Initially, yes; longer term, no

First-person shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has grossed more than $1bn (£625m) in worldwide retail sales since its November launch, raking in more cash during its first five days on sale than blockbuster movie Avatar managed to do, the game's developer has claimed.

Over half of the game’s global sales revenues – some $550m (£338m) – was made during those crucial first five days, developer Infinity Ward said. Most of it - $310m (£190m) – was generated during the game’s first day.

It’s unclear quite how much money Avatar made globally during its first five days, though Infinity Ward insisted it wasn't as much cash as CoD:MW2 generated.

Avatar

However, the film – released globally on 18 December – has since gone on to gross over $1.3bn (£798m), easily surpassing CoD:MW2's total.

Modern Warfare 2 also sold 4.7m units in both the US and UK during its first day, Infinity Ward added.

Given how much cheaper cinema tickets are than games discs, we can safely say that more people worldwide have experienced Avatar than Infinity Ward's shoot-'em-up.

Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, the game’s publisher, said CoD:MW2 had exceeded expectations and “shattered theatrical box office and videogame records". ®

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