Business

‘Call of Duty’ scores $400M+ sales record

“Call of Duty” has conquered the video-game world once again.

The third installment in Activision’s first-person shooter franchise, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” set a new first-day sales record this week, taking in more than $400 million.

The staggering haul is more than any blockbuster movie’s debut. Of course, the cost of one game — at about $50 a pop — is much more than a movie ticket, and Activision said it sold about 6.5 million units opening day.

The launch also broke the record held by last year’s “Call of Duty: Black Ops” installment, which posted sales of $360 million in its first day.

The public’s appetite for virtual battle is revitalizing the entire gaming industry. Electronic Arts had its own hit with “Battlefield 3,” which sold 2 million units last month, according to NPD Group, which tracks game sales.

That game led a broader turnaround in the game market in October, and “Call of Duty” should continue that momentum heading into the holiday season, according to NPD Group.

The $400 million one-day haul for “Call of Duty” is a windfall for an industry that sold $621.3 million worth of games last month, up 3 percent from a year ago.

“Between ‘Uncharted 3,’ ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,’ ‘Elder Scrolls: Skyrim’ and ‘Zelda: Skyward Sword,’ I expect November to be a huge month for new physical retail sales,” said NPD Group’s Anita Frazier in yesterday’s report.

Video game analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities has said the current game lineup is one of the strongest in history.