Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare may be selling less than the previous Call of Duty games, but it is still selling better than everything else, at least when it comes to physical copies. According to gamesindustry.biz, Infinite Warfare is the top selling console game this year in retail stores in the US.
In a press release, Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg says “Call of Duty is retail’s #1 grossing console franchise in the U.S. for the 8th consecutive year and the boldly innovative Infinite Warfare is the #1 grossing console game of the year at retail in the U.S. In addition to our annual blockbuster release, Call of Duty is about engaging fans year around. Black Ops 3 has had amazing engagement all year and now with the classic, boots on the ground gameplay of Modern Warfare Remastered, and the thrilling new experiences of Infinite Warfare, we have a great experience for every Call of Duty fan this holiday.”
Physical sales of Call of Duty have been dropping year-to-year, but it is possible that the increasing popularity of purchasing digital versions of games is contributing to this. With NPD reports only providing sales rankings based on physical copies, it is difficult to tell how much a game is actually selling. Also, games like Call of Duty are being treated more and more like services now, with extra content sold year-round. This means that even if the number of units sold lowers, there is still potential to make just as much revenue.
However, even if it is the case that Call of Duty is losing popularity, it is still outselling the competition at retail, which means that franchise will likely keep up its yearly release schedule for the foreseeable future.