Some numbers on the sales in the UK for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have been released, and boy are they a doozy. Estimates indicate that the highly anticipated title sold 1.23 million on its first day in the UK. Compare that to GTA IV’s 631,000 first day sales in the UK, and you have a ratio of about 2:1. Taking that ratio and applying it to GTA IV’s total first week sales (and assuming that the trends are similar throughout the rest of the world), you have a projected 12 million in units sold. Says Broadpoint AmTech analyst Benjamin Schachter  in a note to  investors:

“We estimate that Modern Warfare 2 could have sold up to approximately 7 million units at worldwide retail in its first day…  in addition, with GTA IV selling-through 6 million units worldwide in its first week, that suggests week one of Modern Warfare 2 worldwide sell-through could approximate 11.7 million.”

“While two-times the week one tally for GTA IV may seem aggressive, the bottom line is that we believe current consensus estimates of around 12 million for the December quarter may end up being conservative.”

He goes on to point out that competitive pricing and heavy discounting have contributed to the strong numbers for first day UK sales, but for some reason does not assume this will mean a different ratio, and therefore different sales numbers, in other parts of the world.

While we’re on the subject, anyone pick up this title yet? I’m interested in it, but I can’t decide if I want it for XBOX 360 or PS3 or PC. At this point I’m tempted to go with PS3 simply because that part of my game library shelf looks mighty empty. But I’ve heard some bad things about the server reliability on the PS3 version, which has me a little wary. And truth be told, I’m a PC loyalist through and through, so that always holds more appeal. Which would you choose?

IGN