We all nodded sardonically when Treyarch’s Josh Olin came out and claimed that Call of Duty: Black Ops would be the “best Call of Duty ever.” Sure it will. Because games that top the 1 billion dollar sales milestone happen all the time; a benchmark the last and universally accepted “biggest” COD ever, Modern Warfare 2, accomplished with aplomb.
More fools us it seems as, going on preliminary data, preorders for Black Ops are currently ahead of where Modern Warfare 2’s were at a similar time in its respective release calendar.
Coming back down to earth, however, Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson believes that, despite the early (pre)lead over its predecessor, Black Ops won’t go on to topple Modern Warfare 2’s staggering 16 million units sold record. Quoting “competition, weaker marketing, and the Infinity Ward situation,” Wilson believes Black Ops will ultimately shift a meagre 12 million copies.
Of course, we’re kidding in suggesting there’s any real correlation between “best” and “biggest.” Best doesn’t necessarily mean “highest sales,” but it is acceptable to think Treyarch are at least keeping one eye on Infinity Ward’s illustrious units sold crown. In the end, only time will tell if more preorders actually equates to monumental sales figures.
Feel free to add your own magic million marker in the comments below. Could Black Ops actually reach the heady sales heights of MW2? We also have our doubts.
Source: IndustryGamers
DeathByNumbers
Erm, don’t tell Kotick this but I’ve spent the last 4 months preordering 9 million copies of Black Ops and I don’t plan on picking them up. Hopefully the increase in production will cause them a few ‘issues’, are you guys with me??
tinman9
Late to the MW series but enjoying it a lot.
Only thing I realise as a 44 yr old gamer, my reactions are not as quick as they once were…:)
Dexter17
I’ll probably wait for the week before release before actually deciding whether I want it or not. That is of course, unless a trailer comes along in the meantime that changes my mind…