Activision reported that Call of Duty: Black Ops III generated more than $550 million in worldwide sales during its first three days in November 2015. That is a launch-period sell-through figure—not a verified lifetime total, profit figure, or amount Activision kept after costs and other deductions.
What the $550 million figure measures
In its November 2015 announcement, Activision said the game had more than $550 million in worldwide sales over its first three days. The company described the figure as retail and digital sell-through and said it included the Season Pass. Activision’s launch announcement
Sell-through refers to sales to customers, rather than a measure of a publisher’s profit. The announcement does not say how much of the reported amount became Activision’s net revenue or how much profit the individual game generated.
Was that Black Ops III’s lifetime total?
No lifetime revenue total or lifetime unit-sales total is established in the primary sources cited here. The $550 million covers only the opening three days; it should not be described as the game’s total earnings.
#1 Best Overall
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- Call of Duty is a dark, gritty future where a new breed of Black Ops soldier emerges and the lines are blurred between our own humanity and the cutting-edge military robotics that define the future of combat.
- Treyarch elevates the Call of Duty social gaming experience by delivering a campaign with the ability to play cooperatively with up to four players online, using the same battle-tested network
- Treyarch premieres a new momentum-based chained-movement system, allowing players to fluidly move through the environment with finesse, using controlled thrust jumps, slides, and mantlin
- No Treyarch title would be complete without its signature Zombies offering - a full-game experience with its own distinct storyline right out of the box. Black Ops 3 Zombies is the most immersive and
Activision later said Black Ops III was the top-selling game worldwide in 2015. Its 2015 Form 10-K described it as the number-one best-selling console game globally that year, based on data from The NPD Group and GfK Chart-Track, together with Activision Blizzard internal estimates. Those are sales rankings, not lifetime dollar totals. Activision’s 2015 ranking announcement · Activision Blizzard’s 2015 Form 10-K
Why release and platform details matter
Black Ops III was released on November 6, 2015. Its editions were not identical: the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions omitted the campaign and some features available on newer consoles. Activision’s game and launch information The reported opening figure is for the title’s worldwide launch, not a breakdown by platform or edition.
Rank #2
- INTRODUCING A NEW ERA OF BLACK OPS:Call of Duty is a dark, gritty future where a new breed of Black Ops soldier emerges and the lines are blurred between our own humanity and the cutting-edge military robotics that define the future of combat.
- A CALL OF DUTY CAMPAIGN UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE IT: Treyarch elevates the Call of Duty social gaming experience by delivering a campaign with the ability to play cooperatively with up to four players online, using the same battle-tested network
- PREPARE FOR A LEVELED-UP MULTIPLAYER With Black Ops III, Treyarch premieres a new momentum-based chained-movement system, allowing players to fluidly move through the environment with finesse, using controlled thrust jumps, slides, and mantlin
- FIGHT THE UNDEAD IN AN ALL-NEW HORROR STORY No Treyarch title would be complete without its signature Zombies offering - a full-game experience with its own distinct storyline right out of the box. Black Ops 3 Zombies is the most immersive and
Don’t confuse the game with the franchise
Activision also reported that the Call of Duty franchise had sold more than 250 million units by 2016. That figure covers the franchise as a whole; it is not a unit-sales total for Black Ops III. Activision’s 2015 ranking announcement
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 features two modes only: Multiplayer and Zombies. NO CAMPAIGN MODE AVAILABLE. Game ONLY features 4 multiplayer maps and 1 zombie map.
- New Movement System: Call of Duty: Black Ops III features a new momentum-based chained-movement system, allowing players to fluidly move through the environment with finesse, using controlled thrust jumps, slides, and mantling abilities in a multitude of combinations, all while maintaining complete control over your weapon.
- Tailored Map Design: Maps are designed from the ground-up for the new movement system, allowing players to be successful with traditional movement, as well as advanced tactics and maneuvers.
- Specialist Characters: Black Ops III multiplayer also introduces the new Specialist character system, which fundamentally changes the way players engage in combat by allowing players to master each specific character's battle-hardened capabilities and weapons.
- XP Progression System: Zombies includes a full XP-based progression system for players that adds depth and re-playability to the engaging gameplay Zombies fans have come to expect.
Rank #4
- Eight fully remastered Zombies maps
- GobbleGum functionality for the very first time
- Chew on 10 all new GobbleGums, including 2 new Whimsical GobbleGums
Rank #3
- Disc only. Original case and manual not included. Will come packaged in a generic case.
- This renewed game has been cleaned, tested, and shows minimal wear.
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