Halo 2 Eclipses Expectations News

Having earmarked â??Halo 2â??s-Dayâ? as the $100 million day, Microsoft today confirmed that the success of Bungieâ??s title has eclipsed even their expectations, shifting an almighty 2.4 million units throughout the US and Canada, driving revenue beyond the $125 million mark.

â??EB Games had a record-breaking day as gamers across the country lined up for hours to be one of the first to get their hands on â??Halo 2â?? on November 9,â? said Jeff Griffiths, president and CEO of EB Games. â??The â??Halo 2â?? frenzy, anticipation and excitement felt throughout the country prove that â??Halo 2â?? has become more than a game -- itâ??s a pop cultural phenomenon.â?

"Halo 2 has blown the roof off of any other sales day in the history of GameStop,â? said Dan Dematteo, president and chief operating officer at GameStop. â??In just one day, we sold more than half a million copies of Halo 2 -- more than any other game in history in its first day of release. Halo 2 has become more than a pop culture phenomena -- it's become a pop culture frenzy."

Not only has Halo 2 broken records in the videogames industry, but also smashing all records at the Box Office, generating more revenue on day one than any of the biggest movies, including Spider-Man 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Matrix Reloaded. In comparison, Halo 2 surpassed the recent success of Disney/Pixar The Incredibles, which grossed $70.5 million in three days across the US compared to the $125 million generated in just one day for Halo 2.

"The first 24 hours of Halo 2 sales have taken our breath away," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing, Xbox. "Across North America, 2.4 million copies of the game were sold through, representing $125 million in total cash register receipts for retailers. It's no longer just a huge game for us but has become a seminal milestone for the entire industry."