Guessing at early sales numbers for Wrath
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 18th 2008 at 4:30PM
Unfortunately, as of this writing, Blizzard hasn't yet released actual numbers for Wrath sales last week (we were expecting around two million, but we'll see what they say eventually). But that won't stop us from guessing -- the list of top ten games sold last week in the UK is out, and Wrath... is number two.That's right -- Activision's own Call of Duty: World at War beat out Wrath for the number one spot, but before you start worrying whether WoW has lost its charm, don't: not only was Wrath an expansion pack (expansion packs obviously don't sell as well as standalone games, sequels or otherwise), but the Call of Duty game has already outsold its prequel, the extremely successful Call of Duty 4, by a 2:1 ratio. Unfortunately, we don't have numbers yet, but all indications are that, in the UK alone, Wrath did almost as well as a game that outsold last year's best selling game. That all make sense?
If not, hear this: Blizzard made a lot of money last week, and pretty soon we'll hear how much. Even more amazing, Activision Blizzard, who owns Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, and World of Warcraft, accounted for a full 25% of all UK game sales last week. The merger has already paid off.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Blizzard, Making money, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bizz Nov 18th 2008 4:43PM
Also, COD sells on 3 different platforms opposed to WOTLK selling on only 1... I think that makes a difference as well
Zayd Nov 18th 2008 4:41PM
COD5 is multiplatform so hardly suprising it sold bucket loads.
Doesn't hold a candle to COD4 though.
Disturbed Nov 19th 2008 12:02PM
yea cod5 is a console. wotlk is not. cod multi-platform. i think the game blows. it has no replay value, and it sucks compared to cod4. just my opinion. the reason it outsold cod4 is because ...the price of console systems have went down since their release, and so more ppl own a console itself. cod4 is still better than cod5.
Lemons Nov 18th 2008 4:43PM
Well...we all know what must be done...
...we must destroy the English!
Percinho Nov 19th 2008 3:48AM
This is outrageous!!!
If you're going on a destroying-spree I demand that you take out the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish as well.
AlexW573 Nov 18th 2008 4:48PM
When did COD come out? Remember that WotLK only had two days on that list (since it's numbers from some time until the 15th).
Comrade Nov 18th 2008 5:00PM
COD came out on the Friday after Wrath.
Chris C. Nov 18th 2008 4:49PM
Over 9000!
sorry... somebody had to do it.
Spoonman Nov 18th 2008 5:04PM
O.o I didn't even know they made a new CoD...
Bishop Nov 18th 2008 5:24PM
in the UK - the UK accounts for less than 20% of WW game sales. It's the UK....wait until the US and Asia numbers pop in. No doubt WOLTK will top all.
snoosh Nov 18th 2008 5:24PM
Also CoD is amazing, and a lot better than an expansion pack where all of the raids out so far can be cleared in less than 3 days after release.
Magma Nov 18th 2008 5:30PM
You're a dumb ass.
snoosh Nov 18th 2008 5:34PM
I'm a dumb ass, eh?
marty.hartwick Nov 18th 2008 5:39PM
Your comment seems to indicate so.
Faemon Nov 18th 2008 5:59PM
Yes, I second that.
Kanuris Nov 18th 2008 5:37PM
Hope EA's paying attention. Or did they take the other 75%?
Jay Nov 18th 2008 5:59PM
Well thousands of people lined up to buy WotLK at the midnight launch in London. It sold out in almost every shop within the first few hours :P
Either way Blizzards doing well.