Modern Warfare II Tops $800 Million Sell-Through in Three Days, Delivers Largest Opening Weekend in Franchise History

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Sets New Records for Unique Players and Hours Played for a Premium Call of Duty Launch Becomes the Biggest Entertainment Opening of the Year Launch Weekend Outdoes ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Box Office Openings Combined, Surpasses Previous Franchise Records Set in 2011 by Modern Warfare 3 Modern Warfare II Universe Continues with Warzone 2.0 Release Nov. 16

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Nov. 1, 2022 — Activision’s Call of Duty^®: Modern Warfare^® II has become the #1 top-selling opening weekend ever in the franchise, delivering more than $800 million worldwide in sell-through following the first three days from its release on October 28, 2022. The blockbuster opening tops any of the biggest worldwide box office openings of 2022, surpassing ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ worldwide box office openings combined.

Modern Warfare II also set a new franchise opening-weekend record as the #1 top-selling Call of Duty digital opening through its first three days. Developed by Infinity Ward, the release of Modern Warfare II represents a bold new direction for the entertainment franchise, which will continue with the upcoming release of Call of Duty®: Warzone ^TM 2.0 on November 16.

“Thank you to our talented team that has created magic through extraordinary artistry and technology, and to the global community of players who find joy and connection through Call of Duty. This milestone belongs to them,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard.

Through only its first three days of release, Modern Warfare II’s opening topped the previous five-day franchise record set in 2011 by Modern Warfare^® 3 in sell-through, to become the biggest opening ever in Call of Duty. Players around the world took part in the new launch, setting new player participation franchise records for number of unique players and hours played through its first three days of premium release. 

“Thank you, Call of Duty players, for making Modern Warfare II’s launch one for the record books as well as the highest grossing entertainment opening of the year. It is our honor and privilege to deliver such a historic launch weekend for the best fans in the world,” said Johanna Faries, General Manager, Call of Duty. “As amazing as this opening has been, Call of Duty has much more in store. An unprecedented level of support for the Modern Warfare universe is on the horizon and Warzone 2.0’s launch is right around the corner. It’s an incredible time for the franchise.”

Modern Warfare II is available worldwide on PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, Xbox^® Series X|S, Xbox One^®, and PC in a fully optimized experience for Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment’s online gaming service, and Steam. Modern Warfare II development is led by Infinity Ward alongside an incredible team of studios, including Activision Central Design, Activision Central Tech, Activision Localization Dublin, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob and Treyarch. For more information and the latest details follow @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Call of Duty franchise records based on internal company reporting. Box office claims according to boxofficemojo.com.

About Activision

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision is a leading global producer and publisher of interactive entertainment. Activision maintains operations throughout the world and is a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), an S&P 500 company. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website at www.activision.com or by following @Activision.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the availability, pricing, features, and functionality of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this press release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

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ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, CALL OF DUTY WARZONE, MODERN WARFARE, and WARZONE are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

Warner Bros. Games today announced that DC’s Black Adam is now available as the latest playable character in MultiVersus, the free-to-play platform fighter developed by Player First Games. Known as the ruler of Kahndaq in the DC canon, Black Adam in MultiVersus is inspired by his comic book origins and arrives as part of Season 1 with a moveset that leverages his superpowers derived from the ancient Egyptian gods. His abilities as a Bruiser class character are on full display in a newly released gameplay trailer, featuring his thunder and lightning attack to shock opponents, electromagnetic forcefield to block out enemy projectiles and flying ability for aerial combat and off-stage versatility. The Classic Comic Black Adam character variant is also shown and is available now for in-game purchase.

For players who can’t get enough Black Adam and for moviegoers everywhere, Black Adam, the epic, all-new Warner Bros. Pictures film starring Dwayne Johnson in the title role, is also available now only in theaters. Comic book fans can also pick up DC’s Black Adam Vol. 1, on sale now.

Today’s update also adds Arcade Mode to thegame and features three difficulty levels and the ability to play with a friend to take on a gauntlet of A.I. controlled enemies to complete unique quests and earn rewards.

MultiVersus is an all-new free-to-play platform fighter developed by Player First Games that introduces a team-based 2 vs. 2 format combined with an all-star cast of iconic characters, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn and Black Adam (DC); Shaggy and Velma (Scooby-Doo); Bugs Bunny and Tasmanian Devil a.k.a. Taz (Looney Tunes); Arya Stark (Game of Thrones); Tom & Jerry (Tom and Jerry); Finn the Human and Jake the Dog (Adventure Time); Steven Universe and Garnet (Steven Universe); Iron Giant (The Iron Giant), LeBron James (Space Jam: A New Legacy); Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith (Rick and Morty), Gizmo and Stripe (Gremlins) and an extraordinary original creature named Reindog. More heroes and personalities will join the MultiVersus roster in the future.

The MultiVersus Open Beta is available now as a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles and PC.The Season 1 Battle Pass is also available now for players to earn in-game rewards.For additional information about MultiVersus, visit MultiVersus.com or join the community conversation on Twitter (@MultiVersus), YouTube (MultiVersus), Instagram (MultiVersusGame), Facebook (MultiVersus) and Discord (MultiVersus).

New Skin – BRANDON HEAT – Gives Grave New Moves, Abilities and Look

Sydney, Australia – November 1st, 2022: Gungrave G.O.R.E – the stylish third-person action shooter by South-Korean Studio IGGYMOB – will have an entirely new in-game skin- called Brandon Heat – changing all of Grave’s moves, abilities and design.

This pack will be available to all players, once they complete one simple task: beating the game on the highest difficulty (G.O.R.E).

As the titular Gunslinger of Resurrection, you become the badass anti-hero of your dreams, an ultimate killing machine, brutalising your foes without mercy. Taking cover and retreating is not an option for Grave, he only ever goes full steam ahead, preferably right through his enemies.

Brandon Heat was Grave’s human form, when he was one of the top assassins of the Mafia organisation Millenion. Fifteen years after his death he was revived as Beyond the Grave (shortened down to Grave) and was resurrected – using advanced necrolization technology – and went to seek revenge on the man who killed him: his former best friend and Millenion associate Harry MacDowell.

But MacDowell didn’t just kill Brandon; he also killed Grave’s former boss – and father figure – Big Daddy in a takeover of Millenion. Daddy’s daughter – Mika – seeks Grave’s protection, essentially becoming his adopted daughter.

Grave then has to fight his way through a city overrun by drugs, thugs and mutated soldiers – called Orgmen – in the hunt for revenge.

Gungrave G.O.R.E will be blasting into stores on 22 November 2022 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X and PC.

About Prime Matter

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Prime Matter the premium gaming label dedicated to delivering a range of diverse and immersive games from amazing gaming development talent all around the globe. Working across projects of all styles, scopes and sizes, single-player, co-op to live ops, from producing to publishing, from ambitious teams taking their first step that need full support without compromising their dream to larger established successful studios searching that next step in the global market and building of brands. Prime Matter looks to lead through creativity, expression and passion, with games that will grip and enchant with enthralling story-telling, winning an audience with its incredible moments and larger-than-life experiences. Prime Matter is a proud member of PLAION

About Studio IGGYMOB
Based in Seoul, South Korea, IGGYMOB is comprised of seasoned veterans of the video games industry and young, fresh talent. The multinational team is developing console titles across various platforms.

SAINT-MALO, France – 31 Oct 2022 – Broken Pieces, the psychological thriller set outside the flow of time from developer Elseware Experience and publisher Freedom Games, escapes supernatural terrors on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One today. 

Explore the scenic French coastal village of Saint-Exil, where Elise and her fiance Pierre recently moved, never expecting the conundrums that await. Discover why everyone in town has vanished and how this once cozy settlement became so sinister. Search for Elise’s missing fiance and uncover the dark history of this once picturesque village.

Encounter obstacles only felled by Elise’s newfound ability to temporarily control the weather. Collect cassette tapes providing insight into the community’s sordid past, a cryptic cult lurking in its underbelly, as well as the only tracks of music filling the deafening silence of frozen time.

Experience a sense of isolation and solitude with an incredibly personal depiction. Along with the lack of background music, cinematics in and out of gameplay were created with hand-held cameras to drive home the sense of isolation. All aspects of game design highlight the fact that Elise is the only human within Saint-Exil.

“After the amazing response on PC earlier this year, we were so thankful console players were willing to wait a bit longer to ensure their versions were just as high-quality,” said Mael Vignaux, Project Lead of Elseware Experience. “Ironically enough, our game about solitude has connected people from all over the world into one large community, which in itself has us reanalyzing our design ethos for future projects. You have all inspired us, thank you, and Happy Halloween!”

Broken Pieces is available now on Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One as well as PC via Steam and Epic Game Store for $29.99 with English and French language support. To learn more, visit Broken Pieces’ official site, join the community on Twitter and Discord, and search #BrokenPieces on social media.

About Elseware Experience

Elseware Experience is a France-based development team, with team members who have previous experience working on games like Dishonored. Broken Pieces is the first title they created working together. At its core, Elseware just wants to make cool games that are narrative-heavy and make an impact on players.

About Freedom Games

Freedom Games is a publisher dedicated to offering best-in-class services to partners and providing players around the world with unique and memorable experiences. With over 50 years of combined industry experience at the executive level, Freedom Games seeks to leverage its expertise to facilitate great games and even better publishing experiences.

For more information, visit the official Freedom Games website.

PARIS – Oct. 31, 2022 – Evil West, the third-person action-adventure game that puts you in the boots of a vampire hunter rescuing a Wild West devoured by darkness, invites you to take an introductory ride through its action-packed, narrative-driven experience in a new gameplay overview trailer. Prepare for the vampire-infested American frontier, releasing on November 22 for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

Get to know Jesse Rentier, the skilled, young vampire slayer you’ll incarnate in Evil West. Star agent of the Rentier Institute, a secret monster-hunting organization led by his father and many generations of Rentier before him, he’ll have to take the action into his own hands after a deadly vampiric conspiracy emerges from the darkness and wipes out the Institute. With the help of Edgar Gravenor, another survivor from the Institute, he’ll have to battle fierce foes and demystify the conspiracy while rebuilding the organization and becoming the leader it needs.

To reach his goal, Jesse will explore every corner of the Wild West, looking for new Institute members and valuable leads on the conspiracy, taking money from abandoned chests and corpses, and growing his arsenal of weapons. Armed with both old-fashioned firearms and advanced technology like the lightning-fueled Rentier Gauntlet, each with its own skill tree for customized upgrades, you’re free to combine Jesse’s weapons and tools to your liking. Take on explosive combat encounters with your own mix of powerful ranged attacks and devastating melee combos.

Get your hands on the ultra-limited Evil West – Signature Edition, a Focus Entertainment Store-exclusive product with only 50 copies available worldwide. It includes a numbered, laminated wooden frame printed with an exclusive artwork by artist Gabz, a physical copy of the game with the Focus-exclusive box art, and the “Wild Wild East Skin Pack” DLC.

Evil West pre-orders are open across all platforms and on the Focus Entertainment Store with an exclusive cover art for physical editions.

LONDON (Oct. 31, 2022) –  Halloween is upon us, a special day to celebrate the things that make us want to jump out of our skin with fright and discomfort, and there’s no better way to embrace those feelings than with Scorn. Anyone yet to experience the H.R. Giger-inspired horror can pick up the game on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and GoG, Scorn is also available on Xbox Game Pass. Visit www.scorn-game.com for more information. 

Be warned though, Scorn is not for the faint of heart. See the horrific thoughts that twisted their way into the minds of critics by the end of the game’s experiential, nightmarish tale. 

Scorn invites players into a macabre hellscape. Left with no assistance, players must learn to deal with the horrors that call this dilapidated world their home by using their arsenal of biomechanical weapons to scrape through unscathed. Tasked with navigating a desolate and interconnected bio-labyrinth, the only way for players to make it through is by learning the rules of this nightmarish place and manipulating the cruel machinery left there. By piecing together these secrets and using the organic tools available to you, surviving this world may just be possible. Finding the truth, however, is an entirely different question. 

Scorn is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam, Epic Games Store and GoG) and through Xbox Game Pass. To purchase, visit: https://scorn-game.com/. 

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About Kepler Interactive Kepler Interactive – led by the founders of Kowloon Nights – is a developer and publisher that operates on a co-ownership model. Its studios are given strategic leadership roles, all while continuing to develop their games their way, with no creative limitations. Kepler’s partner studios are as varied as they are talented, including A44 Games in New Zealand, Alpha Channel and Timberline in North America, Awaceb, Ebb Software, and Sloclap in Europe, and Shapefarm in Asia. Kepler Interactive itself is headquartered in London.

Smooth-as-Hell FPS Continues Story with Massive Stages, New Voice Acting, and More

NEW ZEALAND — Oct. 31, 2022 — Turbo Overkill, the critically acclaimed, hyper-fast-paced cyberpunk boomer shooter by Apogee Entertainment and developer Trigger Happy Interactive with an “Overwhelmingly Positive” Steam user rating, celebrates Halloween with its highly anticipated Episode 2 update, available now on Steam Early Access for PC and coming next year alongside PC’s 1.0 release to PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, and Nintendo Switch.

Witness the gripping, gibtastic second act of Turbo Overkill’s cyberpunk revenge story as the city of Paradise burns around Johnny Turbo. Picking up right from Episode 1’s cliffhanger ending, Episode 2 sees Johnny taking the fight straight to Syn, an omnipotent AI laying siege to the world.

The hunt continues across eight new campaign levels, but armaments new and old can level the playing field. Eviscerate your way across a massive section of Paradise on your new Chainsaw Bike. Swing between towering, neon-lit skyscrapers with the new Grappling Hook. Rev up Johnny’s iconic chainsaw leg, which allows for visceral melee damage at high speeds, with new upgrades at vending machines and Splice stations throughout the city.

To slay thousands of Syn’s minions, Johnny needs to walk harshly and carry several big sticks. Call down actual orbital strikes with the Ion Blaster and take aim with the Telefragger sniper rifle, which teleports Johnny inside enemies, exploding them from within. Barbecue ‘em with the Plasma Gun’s “unreal” stream of orbs and microwaving beam. Unleash Turbo Time, Johnny’s ultimate power and the next evolution of Bullet Time, to move and shoot faster than enemies can blink.

Turbo Overkill’s thrills—driven by high speeds, higher framerates, and pixel-perfect gunplay—gain cinematic flair with full voice acting throughout Episode 2 and retroactively added to Episode 1. Veteran talent includes Patricia Summersett (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild), Jon St. John (the Duke himself), Tay Zonday (“Chocolate Rain”), Gianni Matragrano (Genshin Impact, ULTRAKILL, SMITE), and D.B. Cooper (Monster Train, Bless Online).

“While Turbo honors and builds upon the gameplay legacy of the classic shooters I grew up with, its visuals and storytelling are a big leap forward,” said Sam Prebble, lead designer, Trigger Happy Interactive. “With Apogee’s support, I’ve been able to add top-tier voice talent and cinematics. Plus, the amazing soundtrack work by composers Chipper Hammond, Nikola Jeremić, and Tim Stoney really pulls you in with gritty, dark synthwave beats. These production values add a lot of excitement to the FPS playground each level represents.”

Turbo Overkill Episode 2 is available now via Steam Early Access for PC for USD $19.95, and as a free update for current game owners. Turbo Time your way to Twitter to follow @turbo_overkill and @Apogee_Ent, subscribe to the Apogee Entertainment YouTube channel, and join the Discord servers of both Trigger Happy Interactive and Apogee Entertainment.

About Trigger Happy Interactive

Founded by Sam Prebble, the lone developer of acclaimed, award-winning DOOM II conversion mod Total Chaos, Trigger Happy Interactive is a group of hardcore first-person shooter fans making games they want to play. Turbo Overkill is their debut release.

About Apogee Entertainment

The “Apogee Model,” as described in the new book, Shareware Heroes (Aug. 2022 release), was the starting point for talented indie developers to bypass retail and sell their games using online distribution in 1990. Apogee founder Scott Miller created this new model and soon funded, mentored, and published many indie upstarts and released a legendary string of global success stories, like Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, Shadow Warrior, Max Payne and Prey, earning over a billion dollars commercially. Miller also created the 3D Realms label for Apogee, which was sold to Embracer Group in 2021.

The new Apogee Entertainment, with founder Scott Miller and longtime partner Terry Nagy at the helm, will empower today’s incredibly talented indie developers, paving the way for their global success with innovative ideas, cutting-edge marketing, and the same fearlessness that changed the industry. 

Unravel the Mystery and Lost Memories of a Chilling Past while Repelling Spirits with the Camera Obscura!

Hertfordshire, 31^st October 2022 – The unforgettable horror of a timeless classic returns as KOEI TECMO Europe announced that PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, their revival and remastering of their classic Japanese horror adventure, will be available digitally 9^th March 2023 for Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam®.

PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a frightening mystery that takes place on a remote island in southern Japan. A decade after five young girls mysteriously disappeared at an island festival, their memories of the events that transpired during their disappearance remain fuzzy. But when two of the girls are found dead days apart ten years after the initial vanishing, the remaining three teenagers head back to the island — a haunted place possessed by ghosts and spirits — to solve the mystery of their friends’ death, while also unlocking the secrets to the memories they left behind.

Alongside the standard version of the game, KOEI TECMO Europe also revealed a special PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Digital Deluxe Edition. Available digitally, this unique edition of the game includes the Rogetsu Isle Dinner Party Costume Set, and a digital art book (original soundtrack included).

In addition, anyone who purchases the digital copy of the game by 22^nd March 2023 will have the ability to download the early purchase bonus: Ruka Exclusive Costume “Marie Rose Outfit” from the Dead or Alive series. Fans who preorder the game by the release date will also receive a variety of costumes, including the Ruka Limited Edition Costume “Fox Mask” (white/red), the Misaki Limited Edition Costume “Fox Mask” (black/red), the Choshiro Limited Edition Costume “Fox Mask” (black/blue), and the Ruka Misaki, and Choshiro Limited Edition Costume “Spirit Stone Flashlight Hat”. There will even be a special save bonus costume for fans who have already played PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water. Play PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse on the same device that has saved data from PROJECT ZERO: Maiden of Black Water to receive the Save Data Bonus, the “Camera Obscura Hat”.

For all of the latest news on PROJECT ZERO: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, check out the official site, ‘Like’ us on www.facebook.com/koeitecmogames, and Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @koeitecmoeurope.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.koeitecmoeurope.com

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