Black Ops 2 breaks records

No surprises as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 scores massive day one sales, but perhaps it is a surprise that it managed to do this well when compared to its predecessors. As it turns out Black Ops 2 generated $500 million in revenue in its first 24 hours worldwide. For comparison Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 managed $400 million in North America and UK on day one. It's difficult to estimate how much the rest of Europe accounts for, but the numbers are likely fairly similar for Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 2 in an even comparison.

Of course, where Modern Warfare 3 stumbled compared to the original Black Ops was in subsequent sales, so it remains to be seen what kind of legs Black Ops 2 has.

The number is based on Chart-Track data, retail customer sell-through information and internal estimates.

"With first day sales of over half a billion dollars worldwide, we believe Call of Duty is the biggest entertainment launch of the year for the fourth year in a row," CEO Bobby Kotick adds in the press release.

"Life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise have exceeded worldwide theatrical box office receipts for Harry Potter and Star Wars, the two most successful movie franchises of all time. Given the challenged macro-economic environment, we remain cautious about the balance of 2012 and 2013."