Activision: Modern Warfare 2 Rakes In $550 Million Five-Day Gross

"In just five days of sell-through, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has become the largest entertainment launch in history and a pop culture phenomenon," declares Activision CEO Bobby Kotick today. According to the company, the title has earned an estimated $550 million in its first five days. This is a launch figure that not only beats Grand Theft Auto IV's previous video game record, but also tops worldwide and domestic box office records -- held by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and The Dark Knight, respectively. Activision also points out the effect Modern Warfare 2's launch has had on Xbox Live, citing Microsoft stats that show more than 5.2 million multiplayer hours logged on the game just on its first day. In addition, more than 2.2 million unique Xbox Live users played the game on November 10th, a new single-day record for the service. The avid launch-day players unlocked over 11 million Xbox 360-specific Achievements among them. "The title's success redefines entertainment as millions of consumers have chosen to play Modern Warfare 2 at unprecedented levels rather than engage in other forms of media," says Kotick. As a cap to the triumphant announcement, Activision is quick to note it "remains cautious" about the current economy both domestically and globally, and points out that consumer spending remains a "significant concern."