If there were any doubt left in your mind that Call of Duty is a popular franchise, a recent report from Gamasutra should firmly cement the fact in your mind. According to the piece, Call of Duty: World at War's three DLC packs digitally pushed 6.5 million units between March and mid-August of 2009 across the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles.
As you might imagine, those kind of numbers add up to a lot of extra revenue for the mega-publisher – the piece approximates a cool $45 million. Taking that one step further, the average cost of each box of CoD: WaW sold at retail becomes $65. We're not sure if that number accounts for the chunk taken out by Microsoft and Sony respectively for distribution, but even cut in half that's still a nice chunk of change.
So today, we'd like to officially announce that we're changing the site's name to Call of Duty: Joystiq. Call it a strategic business move – it's all about brand recognition, people!
Update: To be clear, the $45 million number is an approximation by Gamasutra, put together with information from NPD, EEDAR, and Activision PR. It was apparently calculated by taking 65% of 7 million units at $10 a piece, without accounting for giveaways or bundles.
Reader Comments (58)
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 3:46PM (Unverified) said
My friend bought all three DLC packs and has never even used them other than Nazi Zombies. He just says "I don't care, not my money, I'm using my mom's credit card"
He pisses me off.
Reply
He pisses me off.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:03PM (Unverified) said
I don't care if the motherfucker's 35, he should get a goddamned job.
That being said, I bought all 3 packs and have played the shit out of the Nazi Zombie maps, while the MP stuff doesn't get too much playtime. Difference is, it's MY money.
Reply
That being said, I bought all 3 packs and have played the shit out of the Nazi Zombie maps, while the MP stuff doesn't get too much playtime. Difference is, it's MY money.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:05PM (Unverified) said
"Ahh, an elitist PC gamer. Yeah, have fun with your COD, Halo, and uhh... Starcraft. "
*_* Who the fuck wants halo 3 on pc? That games a piece of shit. Fuck, i had more fun online on Halo1 than that crap. Not that you would know since it was only LAN on xbox...
Reply
*_* Who the fuck wants halo 3 on pc? That games a piece of shit. Fuck, i had more fun online on Halo1 than that crap. Not that you would know since it was only LAN on xbox...
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:06PM TheDarkWayne said
I'm with GeneralDeath, i bought all the maps just for Nazi Zombies, i dont even know if Ive been on them in standard MP. But like he said, it's my money, and ill be damned if nazi zombies wasnt worth it.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:17PM (Unverified) said
Treyarch should really stop kidding themselves with making more Call of Duty games and just make fully-fledged Nazi Zombies games instead.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:30PM TheDarkWayne said
@exemplar I would absolutely buy that. Tank, Dr. Richtofethen, Nikolai and Takeo are way more entertaining than Roebuck and Reznov ever where. Also i mean, come on, WunderWaffen! How Activision didn't give Wolfenstein to Treyarch is beyond me
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 3:50PM (Unverified) said
Ahh, an elitist PC gamer. Yeah, have fun with your COD, Halo, and uhh... Starcraft.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 3:59PM (Unverified) said
Oh, I forgot Halo 3 isn't even on PC, scratch that.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:00PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said
Now, now. Be nice to the PC gamer.
You'd be upset too, if you were on the decline, despite your best, most desperate struggles to stay relevant in today's gaming world.
Reply
You'd be upset too, if you were on the decline, despite your best, most desperate struggles to stay relevant in today's gaming world.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:05PM Hooch said
He's not really being elitist, just highlighting the greed of the big devs as they can get away with charging for DLC as there is no way to implement your own content. He's probably a little pissed at Activision atm though, an explanation why is hopefully not required.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:09PM (Unverified) said
@Street Justice: No, he directly aimed that at the gamers, not the devs.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:11PM RKN said
I don't like having the option of mods being taken away in favor of ONLY paid DLC. I'd like the chance to have both and Modern Warfare 2 for the PC sets a crappy precedent. How'd you like to pay for all the custom levels in LittleBigPlanet and not be able to play any free ones from the community?
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:12PM RKN said
I wasn't even being elitist from the very beginning, your being way too sensitive. You and I both know console gamers will lap up any paid DLC from Modern Warfare 2, they will make a fucking killing on it. They put it out, its going to be downloaded to hell hours later, its a fact, your offended by it? Come on now.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:44PM RKN said
I know, I could be playing on my PC instead, but I'm at school anyways so it doesn't matter.
Anyhoo, I become a fanboy based on what system I own. I have had a PS1, PS2, PS3, 360 as my consoles and currently a PC, so I'm currently a PC fanboy whereas I'd been a fanboy of those other systems I owned.
PC gaming shouldn't die, I'd hate to be stuck with consoles or PCs as my only gaming choice.
Reply
Anyhoo, I become a fanboy based on what system I own. I have had a PS1, PS2, PS3, 360 as my consoles and currently a PC, so I'm currently a PC fanboy whereas I'd been a fanboy of those other systems I owned.
PC gaming shouldn't die, I'd hate to be stuck with consoles or PCs as my only gaming choice.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 3:48PM (Unverified) said
I think the zombies picture and DLC purchasers mentality go together quite effectively.
Nice one joystiq!
Reply
Nice one joystiq!
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 3:59PM (Unverified) said
@Shadsy:
Correction, they're paying for content they should've got when they paid $60 in the first place.
Reply
Correction, they're paying for content they should've got when they paid $60 in the first place.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:05PM TheDarkWayne said
jesus dude, the last map pack came out in mid August this year. Remember when CoD 5 came out? NOVEMBER 2008. Why the fuck should a map pack that comes out a year later have been included on the disc?
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:34PM Mr Esc is the namesarcasm is my said
Dude you are doing it wrong.
That complain is only valid if the content is already inside the disc.Like RE:5 versus mode which I end buying for 240MSp because God knows that 240MSp can't buy anything good and Virtual clothing and Wallpapers aren't my thing.
I agree it is expensive but the maps are so well designed is hard to complain.
Reply
That complain is only valid if the content is already inside the disc.Like RE:5 versus mode which I end buying for 240MSp because God knows that 240MSp can't buy anything good and Virtual clothing and Wallpapers aren't my thing.
I agree it is expensive but the maps are so well designed is hard to complain.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:00PM WINterfang said
You know for a Zombie, those guys have nice teeth.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:06PM (Unverified) said
Makes me want to be a zombie...
I have to go to the dentist because my damn wisdom tooth that I never got pulled cracked one of my other back teeth.
Reply
I have to go to the dentist because my damn wisdom tooth that I never got pulled cracked one of my other back teeth.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:12PM (Unverified) said
They said I should just get the cracked one pulled and let my wisdom tooth replace it, cheaper and more effective. Cause I don't have dental insurance...
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:35PM kentuckyfried said
yes, i agree. They could've earned so much extra.
Prolly wanted to focus resources on BC2.
Reply
Prolly wanted to focus resources on BC2.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:14PM (Unverified) said
I bought all the maps. But it wasn't because they were great, or even that good, but because there wasn't much else going on. Bored and stupid. I sold WaW this week.
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:30PM Mr Esc is the namesarcasm is my said
It seems someone isn't familiar with the formule.
Most restaurants have formulés that include a salad and dessert.
Reply
Most restaurants have formulés that include a salad and dessert.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 9:02PM Lord Malvern said
You don't buy a book and expect get half the chapters do you?
Reply
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:21PM Mr Esc is the namesarcasm is my said
If you ask there isn't a map pack of any game that is worth more than $4.99.
With that said World at war map packs are actually very good.
Map pack 2: Banzai and Sup pens are one of my favorite maps.I hate corrosion.
Map pack 3 contains Revolution,Battery and Breach.I don't like Breach but REvolution and Battery are very fun to play.
Shi no numa isn't bad but the best map is Der Rise.
Reply
With that said World at war map packs are actually very good.
Map pack 2: Banzai and Sup pens are one of my favorite maps.I hate corrosion.
Map pack 3 contains Revolution,Battery and Breach.I don't like Breach but REvolution and Battery are very fun to play.
Shi no numa isn't bad but the best map is Der Rise.
Posted: Oct 21st 2009 4:28PM Mr Esc is the namesarcasm is my said
Actually Map pack 3 is worth the 800MS points for Der Rise.I love that song but it would be a better deal if it included a premium theme.
Thinking about it I got a better deal with W@W than with Halo.If I had waited I would have saved 1,600p and I don't play Halo that much either (Massive amounts of lag).
Speaking of good deals Killzone 2 offers a good bundle with all map packs at a fair price.
I don't know why but W@W I can't criticize.The only downer are those people who play 24/7 and have prestiege 10 that know every possible move.I been playing for 36 hours in-game hours now and I haven't reach my first prestiege.
Reply
Thinking about it I got a better deal with W@W than with Halo.If I had waited I would have saved 1,600p and I don't play Halo that much either (Massive amounts of lag).
Speaking of good deals Killzone 2 offers a good bundle with all map packs at a fair price.
I don't know why but W@W I can't criticize.The only downer are those people who play 24/7 and have prestiege 10 that know every possible move.I been playing for 36 hours in-game hours now and I haven't reach my first prestiege.
Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.
Featured Stories
Source: Best Buy offering $300 FF13, Splinter Cell Conviction Xbox bundles next week
Posted on Jul 30th 2010 3:40PM
The most popular posts
in the last 7 days
- Microsoft defends Kinect pricing 140 comments
- Fable 3 gameplay footage from Comic-Con is very, very upsetting 121 comments
- Review: StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty 118 comments
- Street Fighter X Tekken (and vice versa) revealed at Comic-Con 105 comments
- PS3 Netflix adds search option 99 comments











