call-of-duty-black-ops-2
Latest
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 sales reach $1 billion in 15 days
Activision may have skipped its annual five-day totaling of Call of Duty sales, but the publisher announced this morning the latest installment, Black Ops 2, grossed $1 billion in 15 days.The publisher announced shortly after Call of Duty Black Ops 2's launch the annual blockbuster made $500 million in 24 hours at retail, eclipsing Modern Warfare 3's record of $400 million the year prior. The lack of a five-day total, which the company had done for three years running, gave some analysts "cause for concern" that Black Ops 2 wasn't selling as well as previous installments.Seeking a new way to contextualize the achievement, Activision noted the $1 billion milestone was achieved faster than James Cameron's Avatar, which in 2009 reached a billion in ticket sales in 17 days. Modern Warfare 3 reached the one billion milestone in 16 days.
Call of Duty: Blacks Ops 2 not budging from UK top spot, Wii U launches
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is staying right where it is, enjoying the high vantage point atop the UK charts for a third week in a row. Sales of the shooter were down 35 percent from the previous week, but loss was mitigated due to the debut of the Wii U version.Far Cry 3 was the big debut of the week, entering in second. According to Chart-Track, Ubi's first-person shooter franchise became the ninth biggest launch of the year, "just behind last week's Hitman: Absolution," which slipped two spots into fourth."Although there isn't any official data on Wii U's UK sales, MCV's math pegs it somewhere around 40K units. A more interesting sign of the launch is that none of the console's exclusive titles broke the top ten. Nintendoland, New Super Mario Bros. U and ZombiU were the best performers at spots 11, 14 and 17, respectively. Swipe on over past the break for the UK top ten.
Analyst: Black Ops 2 sales a 'cause for concern,' downgrades Activision
Sales of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 are on a trend to be down 15 percent from last year's launch of Modern Warfare 3, financial analyst Arvind Bhatia of Sterne Agee posits. Modern Warfare 3 sales were down 5 percent from the previous year's Black Ops, and if this scenario plays out again Bhatia calls it "a cause for concern" for Activision-Blizzard.Call of Duty as a franchise is responsible for up to 45 percent of Activision's earnings before interest and taxes, Bhatia says, justifying the concern clause. Average reviews of Black Ops 2 were lower than Modern Warfare 3's, and Black Ops 2 launched a week after Halo 4 but a week before Black Friday, meaning some customers may have waited to buy it, Bhatia says.Sterne Agee downgraded Activision's rating from "buy" to "neutral" and reduced 2013 estimates from $4.74 billion to $4.3 billion.All this is in spite of the fact that Black Ops 2 pulled in $500 million at retail on its first day, breaking records and surpassing Modern Warfare 3's $400 million, and is the UK's fourth largest launch ever.
Black Ops 2 topples Halo 4 on Xbox Live
Even after saving the entire galaxy (twice!), Master Chief just can't stay on top. After briefly dethroning Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Live during its launch week, Halo 4 is now the second most played game behind Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, according to Major Nelson. It's not too surprising, given the traditional Xbox Live dominance of Activision's annual shooter.Perhaps more interesting is seeing Hitman: Absolution (appropriately) sneak into the top 20, assassinate Halo 3 and take over its spot at number 19. Meanwhile, Minecraft looms in third place, waiting to reclaim its former glory once again.
Behind the scenes of that Black Ops 2 live-action commercial
A few ads, usually those that air during the Super Bowl, have enough money, creativity and star power to earn the label of "an experience." The live-action trailer for Black Ops 2, apparently, deserves that title. That's the only reason we can think of for this behind-the-scenes video to exist.
Users report Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 leaderboard data reset [update]
If you're the type to meticulously pore over leaderboard data, you may want to boot up Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Some users are reporting their leaderboard data has been erased – total play time, points, rank and even zombies performance seem to have been affected.The forum thread in question only shows a few users complaining of having their stats erased, but we've still followed up with Activision for clarification on whether this is a widespread issue or isolated to a few specific players. We'll update you all as soon as our intel package arrives.Update: Treyarch took to Twitter to acknowledge the issue and the developer says it's working on a fix.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 tops in UK, Hitman: Absolution debuts in second
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 maintained its top spot on the UK charts, despite a sales drop of 81 percent. However, when you're the fourth largest game launch of all time in the UK, you've likely got a decent buffer. Chart-Track also noted sales are actually up 15 percent from last year's Call of Duty installment, Modern Warfare 3, during its second week.Hitman: Absolution debuted respectably in second. Comparing premiere weeks, Absolution outsold Hitman: Blood Money, Agent 47's previous adventure from back in 2006, by almost threefold.Other new entries further down the chart are Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale at 34, 35 and 38, respectively. Punch past the break for the UK top ten.
Black Ops 2 patched on 360 and PC
Treyarch updated Call of Duty Black Ops 2 on PC and Xbox 360 this week, and now the patch notes for both updates are out in the wild.According to the patch notes, the Xbox 360 title update brings improvements to live and playback video streaming, as well as addressing a number of exploits and minor errors. The PC update increases the maximum field-of-view setting to 90 degrees, improves dedicated server matchmaking, and bundles in a few other fixes too.The PS3 version received a patch across the weekend targeting freezing and console shutdown issues. Activision is still receiving post-patch reports of in-game freezes.
Guinness record of longest game session set at 135 hours with Black Ops 2
The Guinness World Record for longest video game marathon was set by Australian Okan Kaya this week, after he played Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for 135 hours over seven days.Guinness rules allow for one ten-minute break every hour, which Kaya could bank and use in chunks. Yahoo's Plugged In reports the previous record was set by a Canadian pair playing the Resistance series for 120 hours.Kaya was in good company with Call of Duty Black Ops 2, which set sales records when it earned $500 million on its first day at retail.
Black Ops 2 patched on 360, glitches get stitches
The Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has received an update, and while the full patch notes won't be available until tomorrow, we do know some details thanks to Treyarch design director David Vonderhaar's Twitter account. Specifically, we know that an issue preventing Dragonfire drones from deploying correctly has been corrected, in addition to an error that caused Escort Drones to attack their owners and Theater Mode UI Error #226117, whatever that is. The bouncing care package glitch, which supposedly causes care packages to bounce wildly away from their drop location, is still being investigated and will not be corrected with this patch.
Black Ops 2 'Nuketown 2025' playlist removed, outcry gets it added to new bonus playlist
Earlier today, Treyarch pulled the popular Nuketown 2025 24/7 playlist in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 citing the dedicated rotation of modes on the map was temporary."Double XP weekend is official over. That means Nuketown 2025 / 24-7 is as well. I know. Right? Don't kill the messenger," Game Design Director David Vonderhaar wrote on Twitter. But an outcry of fans for the pre-order and Collector's Edition map – a re-imagining of the original Black Ops arena – have made Treyarch think twice.Moments ago an update was sent to Black Ops 2 adding a new playlist, dubbed "Bonus." The mode within the playlist, "Chaos Moshpit," notes that selecting this playlist will rotate "small maps with a variety of game modes," including Nuketown 2025."Chaos Moshpit" also includes the maps Carrier, Cargo, Express, Hijacked, Slums, and Standoff, Vonderhaar tweeted.So, get your Nuketown on, folks!Update: A tweet from Treyarch confirms the playlist should go out to all versions of Black Ops 2. The PC version is planned for tomorrow.
Black Ops 2 still freezing on PS3 for some players despite patch
Despite releasing a patch addressing the issue, Activision is still receiving reports of Black Ops 2 freezing on PS3. Going by the post-patch thread on Activision's forums, users are experiencing a variety of lock-up issues, with some unable to get past initial loading screens.Complaints about the PS3 version arose quickly after Black Ops 2's launch last week, with widespread reports of the game freezing and requiring a reset, and even of the console shutting itself off in-game. The complaints weren't tied to one particular event, although freezes commonly occurred during online multiplayer.Activision released patch 1.03 on Saturday, November 17, specifically addressing the freezing issue. However, a day later the publisher said it's aware "some customers are still experiencing PS3 lock-ups after installing the patch" and that it hopes to resolve the issue as soon as possible.While complaints are plentiful, the latest Call of Duty continues to sell. In the UK, Black Ops 2 enjoyed the fourth biggest launch ever for a video game, while worldwide it took in a whopping $500 million in its first day alone.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is 4th biggest UK launch of all time
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launched across the globe last week and, as sure as the Queen combines her corgis like Voltron into one giant corgi to ride around the palace, the game debuted in the top spot. We're not projecting the right gravitas here. The game didn't just premiere at the top spot in the UK, it starts out there as the fourth biggest game launch of all time, according to Chart-Track.Halo 4 stepped down one notch into second, with FIFA 13 tapping its foot in third, awaiting the moment where it can move back up once the holiday blockbusters are over. Speaking of other franchises with ridiculously long tails on the UK charts, Just Dance 4 climbed up two spots from nine to seven. FIFA and Just Dance love that top ten dance floor, check out the other members of the soul train after the break.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 rakes in $500 million in first day
Activision announced today Call of Duty Black Ops 2 made $500 million on its first day at retail, eclipsing the franchise's previous record of $400 million as set by Modern Warfare 3 last year. Back then Modern Warfare 3 sold 6.5 million copies in the US and UK to make that figure, suggesting even greater numbers of copies sold this time around.Black Ops 2 shifted 1 million copies at GameStop on day one alone, while Amazon noted it became the site's most pre-ordered game ever. We can expect an even more eye-popping amount in around a week's time, when Activision will likely reveal the five-day sales figure. Last year Activision disclosed Modern Warfare 3 made $775 million in its first five days, and at this rate Black Ops 2 will have its eyes set on ten figures for the same mark.
Report: GameStop Wii U game pre-orders at 1.2 million, double the Wii
GameStop patrons are more interested in Wii U than they initially were of the Wii, the retailer has revealed. Over 1.2 million individuals have pre-ordered Wii U games at GameStop, in addition to the 500,000 Wii U consoles claimed since opening up pre-orders back in September.That figure comes out to 2.4 games per console reserved, which GameStop has told Gamasutra is roughly twice the attach rate GameStop saw prior to the Wii launch. Top pre-orders include ZombiU, Assassin's Creed 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Scribblenauts Unlimited and New Super Mario Bros. U.The Wii U officially launches in North America on Sunday, November 18. On launch day, 23 different games will be available; a total of 50 games will be available within the Wii U launch window, which runs up to March 2013.
Call of Duty Elite app gets Black Ops 2 support on iOS, Android
The Call of Duty Elite app has been updated on iOS and Android to support this week's monolithic debut, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. You can use the app to check your career stats and recent match performances, edit your classes, and search for and apply to Clans – pretty much the same stuff you can do with the app via Modern Warfare 3.You can also use it to stream Call of Duty Elite TV, access multiplayer guides, and track challenges. The iOS app is universal and compatible with all iDevices running iOS 5.0 or greater; however, the app does not have iPhone 5 screen support.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 moves 1 million units at GameStop opening day
GameStop says it sold over a million copies of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 yesterday, making it the company's largest launch of all time. Speaking to Bloomberg Businessweek, GameStop president Tony Bartel expects it to break sales records.Amazon Tweeted similar allusions of record-breaking sales by Activision's latest annual installment of the shooter franchise: "Black Ops 2 broke records and is now our most pre-ordered game ever!"Last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 day-one sales hit 6.5 million units in the US and UK, for a cool $400 million in 24 hours. It went on to earn $775 million in five days.
BioWare responds to Black Ops 2 mix-up with Mass Effect Trilogy giveaway
In response to reports of some PC copies of Black Ops 2 having a second disc for Mass Effect 2, Bioware is giving away Mass Effect Trilogy to those affected. As detailed on its blog, the Mass Effect developer will send free PC codes for the compendium to the first 50 people to send the developer a photo of the error.It's a cheeky yet inspired response from BioWare, the developer calling the mix-up an "omen" it had to take heed of. "If the universe thinks that you should be playing Mass Effect right now," the post reads, "who are we to argue?"Meanwhile, an Activision rep addressed complaints on the official Black Ops 2 forum, saying teams are trying to work out how the mix-up occurred. The post recommends using a product key provided in the case to activate the game on Steam.
Report: Some Black Ops 2 retail discs contain Mass Effect 2 info
Players who bought retail PC copies of Black Ops 2 – some of the same people who waited in line for hours on a cold November night during the midnight launch – popped in the second installation disc to find that it's for Mass Effect 2. Reports on Steam, Reddit, 4chan and the Black Ops 2 forums describe the same problem, and the video below shows it in action (along with some NSFW language).This prevents these players from installing Black Ops 2 with the discs, but each retail copy comes with a Steam key and the entire game can be installed digitally. It will take a while, but it is at least, eventually, playable; this process largely negates the entire "waiting in line for a retail version" thing, though.We've contacted Activision for more information.
Metareview: Call of Duty Black Ops 2
Like a giant warhead hurtling towards a resigned bunny rabbit, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 explodes into the holiday season today. In our review, Xav lauds the multiplayer for "offering plenty of in-game and inherent rewards," but criticizes the game's "lackluster story that fails the ambition shown by the branching campaign." With Black Ops 2 being a fairly big deal, it turns out there are others who also have opinions on Treyarch's shooter. IGN (93/100): "Combined with the host of subtle and overt improvements to the array of other systems, the additions to make it more appealing to Esports, and the more fleshed out Zombies mode, this is not just a fantastic Call of Duty game, but one of the best shooters of the last decade." G4 (90/100): "A ton of work has gone into this game from top to bottom, and it stands as a real testament to the developers who didn't want to just coattail this one into the books. Nearly every system and aspect of the game has been tweaked or overhauled, and it certainly shows in the final product." EGM (90/100): "The first Black Ops put Treyarch on par with Infinity Ward; with Black Ops 2, they surpass them. This is the most impressed I've been with Call of Duty since the first Modern Warfare; aside from some problems with the Strike Force missions, this is a shining moment for the franchise." Game Informer (85/100): "For shooter fans that don't require as deep of a dive, Black Ops 2's multiplayer may feel like more of the same. No significant new match types are present, and the Pick 10 system doesn't drastically change the gameplay experience. Most of the changes to the Call of Duty formula come in campaign mode, and they are executed with mixed results. Despite some frustrations, Black Ops 2 is yet another massive, polished, finely tuned entry in a series that shows no signs of slowing down." GameSpot (80/100): "The campaign hits the same satisfying rhythms, the multiplayer captures the same frenetic intensity, and the cooperative zombies mode delivers the same stale undead-massacring action. Caught between striving for the future and remaining rooted in the past, Black Ops 2 finds solid footing, providing another great ride on the Call of Duty rollercoaster."
