Following more than 22,000 midnight madness launch events, Microsoft and Epic Games announced last week that the Xbox 360 exclusive sold more than three million copies worldwide in its first week since release, cementing Gears 3 as the biggest game of 2011 and catapulting the franchise beyond one billion dollars in lifetime sales.
In just one week, Gears 3 grossed more than any 2011 video game to date. In addition to topping this year's sales charts, the franchise joins the elite ranks of only a select few game franchises to surpass one billion dollars in lifetime sales. Taking the milestone even further, "Gears" now stands as the first Xbox 360 exclusive franchise introduced this console generation to eclipse the billion dollar milestone.
“‘Gears of War’ was the first killer app for Xbox 360, and the series has continued to contribute directly to the overall success of the platform ever since,” said Microsoft Corporate Vice President Phil Spencer. “‘Gears of War 3’ kicked off the biggest Christmas period in Xbox history, setting the standard for the kind of amazing, action-packed experiences gamers should expect on Xbox 360 this year.”
Game modes like Beast and Horde 2.0, along with the addition of dedicated servers, has driven more than three million unique users to log onto Xbox LIVE to play “Gears of War 3” since launch. Hailed by critics as a “triumph” 1 and a “masterpiece of exciting gameplay and emotional storytelling,” 2 “Gears of War 3” has already garnered more than 50 perfect review scores and become the highest-rated Xbox 360 exclusive of the year.
About Gears of War 3
Developed by acclaimed studio Epic Games and available only on Xbox 360, Gears of War 3 plunges players into a harrowing tale of hope, survival, and brotherhood that will conclude the current story arc for Gears of War. With the last human city destroyed and the remaining survivors stranded, time is running out for Marcus and his comrades as they fight to save the human race from the jaws of extinction.
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Publisher: Epic Games
ESRB Rating: Mature
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