Call of Duty didn’t top the yearly sales charts for one of the first times since 2009

Just like death and taxes, you can usually rely on a Call of Duty game to top the sales charts each year. The various entries in Activision’s warfare simulation franchise have mostly done just that, going all the way back to 2009. This year’s a bit different. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III has fallen to second place, as reported by media research firm Circana. According to the list, Hogwarts Legacy topped the charts for 2023, selling around 22 million copies. This is despite the not insignificant controversy the game generated, both by its association with franchise creator JK Rowling — who has leveraged her celebrity position to espouse anti-trans views — but also tropes within the game itself which some (but not all) saw as drawing from antisemitic caricatures. Still, fans had been waiting for a high-quality AAA game set at the wizarding school for decades and Hogwarts Legacy delivered on the promise of a true open-world Harry Potter title. The sales obviously reflect that. As a matter of fact, there have been only two other occasions in which Call of Duty was knocked from first place. Those were the years in which Grand Theft Auto V (2013) and Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) were released. Both Rockstar titles absolutely dominated the conversation upon launch, becoming bona-fide cultural touchstones. Hogwarts Legacy, while very good, hasn’t approached that level of buzz, so maybe this data illustrates that players are finally getting sick of Call of Duty, or maybe it's... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-01-18 19:16:41 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Call of Duty didn’t top the yearly sales charts for one of the first times since 2009"


Your favorite podcast is now a toy—and a cruise, and a book, and a backpack

Wondery chief brand officer Nicole Blake is giving podcasts the ‘Harry Potter’ treatment. Not so long ago, a book deal and a live tour marked the outer limits of how far a hot podcast could hope to expand its horizons. These days, they’re only the beginning. Especially at Wondery, the... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2025-04-19 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


JK Rowling’s journey from Harry Potter creator to gender-critical campaigner

Doyenne of children’s literature has regularly utilised social media in support of women-only spacesCocktail in hand and puffing on a celebratory cigar onboard her superyacht, reportedly somewhere in the Bahamas, JK Rowling celebrated on social media after this week’s UK supreme court ruling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2025-04-18 16:11:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HBO reveals first part of Harry Potter TV cast, including Dumbledore and Hagrid

John Lithgow confirmed in Dumbledore role, with Paapa Essiedu playing Severus Snape and Nick Frost as HagridFor many Harry Potter fans, no actors could ever live up to the original cast of the cherished film franchise. For others, a new TV adaptation is an opportunity for greater detail and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2025-04-14 17:21:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HBO reveals first cast members for Harry Potter TV series

Paapa Essiedu will portray Severus Snape, while Paul Whitehouse has been cast as Argus Filch. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2025-04-14 16:00:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this


What can we expect in Universal's theme UK park?

Paddington, Lord of the Rings and 007 – but not Harry Potter – expected at Bedfordshire theme park. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2025-04-10 02:00:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this


How Jason Isaacs became the latest White Lotus star to have a renaissance

The Harry Potter and Death of Stalin actor has found fame with a new audience in hit TV showHe has worked in the industry for more than three decades, and appeared in blockbusters, but for a long time Jason Isaacs had managed to eschew the limelight.Then came The White Lotus, and suddenly the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2025-04-05 08:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Spider-Man and Harry Potter producers to make next Bond

Amy Pascal and David Heyman have been described as "two of the most accomplished" producers around. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2025-03-25 18:20:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this


John Lithgow set to play Dumbledore in Harry Potter TV series – reports

Actor reportedly in final negotiations to follow up performance in Oscar-nominated hit Conclave with key role in much-anticipated HBO seriesJohn Lithgow is nearing a deal to star as Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s hotly anticipated Harry Potter series, sources told Deadline and Variety.HBO... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2025-02-12 22:21:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Announcing the Best Book Cover of 2024

December marks the start of the holiday season and the return of one of our favorite year-end traditions: the annual best book cover tournament. Now in its fourth year, this contest is our way of recognizing and celebrating the talented designers behind the books. After all, the cover is the... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2024-12-17 12:05:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


WICKED Becomes Highest-Grossing Musical Adaptation in History, and More Book News!

The holiday season is upon us, but book news stops for no one. Here’s all the book news that’s popping ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2024-12-10 13:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Indie Bookstores Report a Strong Start to a Short Holiday Season

Independent bookshops around the country are reporting that, despite a late start to the holiday season, sales last weekend were mostly on par with or better than the 2023 post-Thanksgiving weekend, with Small Business proving especially busy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-12-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


New Harry Potter ride at Universal Orlando will have British Ministry of Magic as setting

Harry Potter fans anticipating the third attraction based on the popular book and movie franchise at Universal Orlando Resort learned that the fictional setting for the ride will be the British Ministry of Magic Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2024-11-19 19:10:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The best Lego Black Friday deals include up to 40 percent off Star Wars, Super Mario sets

We’re big Lego fans here at Engadget, so it’s not difficult for us to understand why the building block sets are some of the first items to sell out during the holiday shopping season. Kids and adults alike seek out Lego sets all year round, and they make particularly good gifts. Whether you... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-11-14 15:00:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Sonos Arc Ultra review: New tech powers a big audio upgrade

2024 has been a rough year for Sonos. The company’s would-be triumphant entry into the crowded headphones market was overshadowed by a disastrous app redesign. In the fallout of the botched software update, the company decided to delay products that were ready to be shipped to give itself more... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-11-11 13:00:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Greg Hildebrandt, iconic Star Wars and Lord of the Rings artist, has died at 85

One of fantasy and sci-fi’s all-time greats has passed away. Artist Greg Hildebrandt, known for his iconic work on Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel and Magic: The Gathering, died on Thursday at 85. He and his twin brother Tim, who died in 2006, were a powerhouse duo — the Brothers... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-11-01 19:30:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Engadget Podcast: Apple’s M4 chip heads to the iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro

It's been a Mac-heavy week! In this episode, Devindra and producer Ben Ellman dive into all of Apple's new M4 hardware: the new iMac, Mac mini and refreshed Macbook Pros. The Mac mini, in particular, looks like it'll be a huge hit for anyone who needs a simple desktop system. Also, we dive into... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2024-11-01 13:20:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Literary Publishers Embrace the Midnight Release Party

Move over, Harry Potter! Hotly anticipated adult novels from such authors as Haruki Murakami and Sally Rooney are the latest to get the midnight book release party treatment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-10-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


These trending Harry Potter-style floating LED candles are 55% off

Want your house to have extra atmosphere on Halloween? Or maybe you just love Harry Potter and have enough adult money to decorate your home however you wish? Either way, these floating candles are absolutely gorgeous and a perfect addition to any magic-filled room. Right now, you can... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2024-10-25 12:30:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this