'Call of Duty' Franchise Moves Past $3 Billion In Sales
Activision Blizzard says the 'Call of Duty' series has sold more than 55 million units since its launch in 2003. "Call Of Duty has become one of the greatest entertainment franchises of all time," says Chief Executive Bobby Kotick. "If you consider the number of hours our audiences are engaged in playing 'Call of Duty' games, it is likely to be one of the most viewed of all entertainment experiences in modern history." The first-person shooter game recorded an estimated $550 million in sales in its first five days on store shelves. A number which established the game as the biggest entertainment launch in history. More than 4.5 million copies were sold on the first day in the United States and United Kingdom alone. But it's not just Activision raking in the cash. Kotick made a cool $20 million himself after he unloaded company stock following the game's much anticipated November launch. Kotick reportedly acquired the stocks nine years ago when they were worth $1.03 each. After his sale following the release of 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2', when the value shot up to $11.50 per share, he walked away with $20.2 million.
After record breaking sales on its release date, the popularity of 'Modern Warfare 2' has now seen the 'Call of Duty' franchise move past a whopping $3 billion dollars.
November 30, 2009 | |
