Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 grosses $1 billion one day faster than Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has grossed over $1 billion in retail sales during the past 15 days, Activision announced today.

The number, which is based on the Chart-Track retail customer sell-through information and internal company estimates, represents a milestone for the series, having reached the $1 billion mark faster than last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Comparatively, Modern Warfare 3 hit $1 billion in retail sales in 16 days. To give this even more context, feature film Avatar set the box office record in 2009 by reaching $1 billion in 17 days.

"The release of Call of Duty has been one of the most significant entertainment events of each of the last six years," said Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. "Since Call of Duty was launched, cumulative franchise revenues from players around the world are greater than current worldwide box office receipts to date for the top-10 grossing films of 2012 combined. Life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise have exceeded worldwide theatrical box office receipts for Harry Potter and Star Wars, the two most successful movie franchises of all time."

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launched to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on Nov. 13 in North America. A Wii U version was released on Nov. 18.