WoW's Lich King sells record 2.8 million copies in 24 hours
Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Business models, Events, real-world, Expansions, Launches, MMO industry, New titles
The numbers are in and Blizzard has broken their own record once again. After selling 2.8 million copies in 24 hours, World of Warcraft's second expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, has set the record as the fastest-selling PC game of all time, according to Blizzard. The irony is that the previous record holder was also Blizzard with their first WoW expansion, The Burning Crusade, which sold 2.4 million on the January 2007 launch day.
Blizzard's CEO and co-founder, Mike Morhaime, commented on the occasion, "We're grateful for the incredible support that players around the world have continued to show for World of Warcraft." Now the company is setting its sights on breaking the next record of 3.5 million copies sold in the first month; a record also set by The Burning Crusade. At this pace, they should easily break that next week.
Blizzard's CEO and co-founder, Mike Morhaime, commented on the occasion, "We're grateful for the incredible support that players around the world have continued to show for World of Warcraft." Now the company is setting its sights on breaking the next record of 3.5 million copies sold in the first month; a record also set by The Burning Crusade. At this pace, they should easily break that next week.

















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeni said on 11:35AM 11-20-2008
I didn't pick up my game until Friday... And I still had to wait in a checkout line for 30 minutes with everyone else that had boxes. XD I think it's fair to say that, yes, it'll break it!
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John said on 11:46AM 11-20-2008
Good for Blizzard...its a quality expansion ... I'm having a blast and they deserve all the success they get from this expansion!
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Leshrac said on 1:32PM 11-20-2008
Keep rolling, rolling, rolling......keep rolling......
I'm struggling to get thru the newbie starter zones.....more of the same.
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Tastyrice said on 9:57AM 11-22-2008
This happens with every game launch. You're forgetting the extensive WAR coverage just before and after launch, and the AoC news just before that. Wrath of the Lich King just came out. Therefore there will be news about it. It's that simple. WoW is the biggest MMO out there and a site not mentioning the biggest MMO, specifically when it's expansion set has been released seems like they wouldn't be doing they're job. They have done news on selling records for WAR and AoC so not doing it for WoW is considered bias?
Uldon said on 2:02PM 11-20-2008
I just happened to really realize how biased towards WOW this website is. I realize it is the number 1 MMO out there right now, but for specific WOW stuff, there is WowInsider.
The blog title caption says it is daily news about MMO's. but all we get is WoW stuff. Even the expansion release prizes were biased as Warcraft related stuff here got games and such...wheres the EQ stuff? Where's the LOTRO stuff?
So yeah, I don't play WOW anymore and obviously need a better place to read up on news from the MMO area other than one so WoW centered.
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Jeni said on 2:08PM 11-20-2008
Guess you forgot about all the WAR/AOC/COX stuff that was given away.
Now, if we look at the MMO pie of how big games are, games like WAR are 1/10th as large as games like WoW. WoW's got the most stuff going on with it. Of course a blog about MMOs is going to have 90% more WoW coverage than War.... Oh wait...this blog doesn't?
Take a count of the number of blogs posted this past month. Let's find out the totals based on games reported on.
Once upon a time, the only thing you found here was SL stuff...and SL's not even an MMO (or that massive).
Now, do try to remember that the staff here are average joes that...well...blog. Like 99% of the entire US. Blogs = opinions = bias. Way of the world.
John said on 4:20PM 11-20-2008
LOL ... bitter much???
Good God man...there are lots of other stories ... just look up at the other articles...but when you're a miserable hateful person...of course you'll only notice the one game you've forced yourself to hate...
Oh look out...a house just fell on you!!
Uldon said on 4:29PM 11-20-2008
Wow, two comments and nothing really good from either. Just because you like what is going on here doesn't mean I have too.
I bet you both play Warcraft too, so yeah... I can have my opinion and vent it here too, that's what these type of places are for.
If they can't accept some people not liking how they are doing things, then maybe they should get out of the blogging business.
Out
Tasogare said on 4:41PM 11-20-2008
Dude have you even LOOKED at the percentage of coverage they do on this site? Apparently not because you're a bitter and jaded person. No one refutes your right to have or post an opinion, but don't make claims that are way off base and then get pissy when people call you out on it. For being the biggest, and most played MMO out, the game is inevitably going to garner more mention because there is more news outside of this blog reported on it. All this blog does is not things that are said, not why this game is better then every game out there like you seem to think it is. In fact, if you wanted to call bias on any MMO out, then that game is 100% positvely EVE, that game gets WAY more attention than WoW does.
Vlatch said on 4:18PM 11-21-2008
@ Uldon
Look at all the articles on your favorite MMOs here that you aren't getting anywhere else. WAR|LotRO|EVE etc. Just do what I do and skip the articles that don't interest you from the headlines. No reason to jump into an article that you know is going to get you upset.
Jack said on 8:50PM 11-20-2008
2.8 million copies in 24 hours woot and they did not even open up online upgrade!
Now show the LOTR online xp sales lol!! Oh well everyone got there own taste
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Dread said on 9:01AM 11-21-2008
Out of curiosity.....how many of those 2.4 million were Asian sales? I think that the massive number of Asian subs screws the numbers around a lot.
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Jeni said on 9:39AM 11-21-2008
Chinese markets tend to get the game months after everyone else. Blizzard does not publish their game there. The9 does.
Dread said on 7:31PM 11-21-2008
Why would they release the game months later in their biggest market?? Sounds illogical to me. Unless out of the purported 11 million subs Warcraft has....they sold 2.4 million WotLK boxes.....that means either there's around 9 million odd Asian subs who are not allowed to play WotLK or 9 of the 11 million subs aren't playing WotLK - thats a massive hit to their subs no?