Halo 3 Sells Big, Really Big
The biggest launch in entertainment history, says MS.
With around 1.7 million pre-orders placed for Halo 3 in the US it was never a question of if the game would open strong but rather how strong. Now we know.
According to a glowing press release sent out this morning by MIcrosoft, Halo 3 managed to do $170 million of business in its first 24 hours, wiping out the previous opening of $125 million set by Halo 2 in 2004.
This $170 million debut, according to Microsoft's reckoning, gives Halo 3 the honour of the "biggest entertainment launch in history", ahead of the new Spider-Man movie, the latest Harry Potter book and everything else.
Exactly how many copies Microsoft sold is hard to figure out, since there are three versions of the game available, which complicates estimates. Assuming most people bought the standard $60 edition, that would put opening sales at around 2.5 million copies, though Microsoft hasn't confirmed any numbers yet.
Many of those early buyers have jumped online immediately too. Microsoft said that more than a million people had gone online to play Halo 3 on Xbox Live.
Halo 3 was released on 25 September in the US and made its European debut on 26 September.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
Satoru Iwata Video Interview - the late Nintendo president spoke with Kikizo in 2004 as 'Nintendo Revolution' loomed.
Kaz Hirai Video Interview - the first of Kikizo's interviews with the man who went on to become global head of Sony.
Ed Fries Video Interview - one of Xbox's founders discusses an epic journey from Excel to Xbox.
Yu Suzuki, the Kikizo Interview - we spend time with one of gaming's most revered creators.
Tetris - The Making of an Icon: Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers reveal the fascinating story behind Tetris
Rare founders, Chris and Tim Stamper - their only interview? Genuinely 'rare' sit down with founders of the legendary studio.
The History of First-Person Shooters - a retrospective, from Maze War to Modern Warfare