Halo 2 Breaks All Sales Records

2.4 million copies in first 24 hours.

The first sales predictions from Microsoft following the launch of Halo 2 on Tuesday in North America were for two million copies. On Wednesday, Microsoft's Peter Moore upgraded that estimate to just over 2.3 million copies. Even that was not enough.

Microsoft announced on Thursday that Halo 2 sold 2.4 million copies in its first 24 hours, bringing in an estimated $125 million for the company.

Retailers across North America have spoken of unprecedented demand for the game.

"EB Games had a record-breaking day as gamers across the country lined up for hours to be one of the first to get their hands on Halo 2 on November 9," said Jeff Griffiths, president and CEO of EB Games.

"The Halo 2 frenzy, anticipation and excitement felt throughout the country prove that Halo 2 has become more than a game - it's a pop cultural phenomenon."

At GameStop, the other major North American videogame retail chain, the situation was very similar.

"Halo 2 has blown the roof off of any other sales day in the history of GameStop," said Dan Dematteo, president and chief operating officer at GameStop.

"In just one day, we sold more than half a million copies of Halo 2 - more than any other game in history in its first day of release."

The demand for Halo 2 was so strong that first day sales surpass any one-day entertainment event in history, including anything that Hollywood has had to offer.

"The first 24 hours of Halo 2 sales have taken our breath away," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing, Xbox.

"It's no longer just a huge game for us but has become a seminal milestone for the entire industry."

Halo 2 was developed by Bungie, now wholly owned by Microsoft. The original, Halo: Combat Evolved, launched alongside the Xbox hardware in 2001.

It was among the most popular games on the console and remains one of its best sellers every month to this day.

Halo 2 was released in the UK on Thursday, 11 November. The official sales figures for the UK will be available from industry analyst group Chart Track on Monday.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games