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Black Ops 4 Outsells Red Dead Redemption 2 In October; PS4 Tops The Hardware Chart In The US

Chart-toppers.

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What video games and consoles sold the best in October? The NPD Group has released its report for the month, revealing that Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 topped the software sales charts while Sony's PlayStation 4 was the best-performing console in the month in the United States.

Rounding out the top five best-selling games, in order, were Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, NBA 2K19, and Super Mario Party. Notably, while Red Dead Redemption 2 had an astoundingly excellent first few days (it's shipped 17 million copies already), its launch came at the end of the month (October 26) compared to an early-October release (October 12) for Black Ops 4.

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According to the NPD, Black Ops 4's first-month dollar sales amounted to the eighth biggest since NPD started tracking sales in 1995. After just one month, Black Ops 4 is now the best-selling game of 2018 in the US, and the second best-selling game of the trailing 12-month period, only behind Call of Duty: WWII. It appears Black Ops 4 not having a traditional campaign didn't hurt sales as some might have predicted. The reporting period for October was October 7 through November 3.

As for Red Dead Redemption 2, it's now the second best-selling game of 2018. Its launch-month sales were three times higher than the first-month sales of Red Dead Redemption 1 in 2010.

With console, portable, and PC sales combined, total software revenue more than doubled from last October to $965 million. That's good for the best October in NPD history, besting the previous high of $743 million from October 2008. Notably, the Call of Duty franchise normally releases in November, while Red Dead Redemption 2 is a once-a-console-generation-type game, so better-than-normal results were expected.

Moving to hardware, Sony's PlayStation 4 was the best-selling console of October 2018 in terms of units sold and total revenue. In face, October was the PS4's best October ever for unit sales, while total dollar sales were the highest of any October since October 2014. Covering all platforms, total spending on hardware rose 26 percent year-over-year to $300 million. The PS4 and Xbox One posted "significant gains," but other platforms declined.

With software, hardware, and accessories combined, total spending on video games in the US in October 2018 came out to $1.55 billion, which was up 73 percent. October 2018 represented the best month ever since NPD started tracking video game sales in 1995. The previous record was $1.36 billion from October 2008.

October 2018 Best-Selling Games

All-Platforms

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Assassin's Creed Odyssey
  4. NBA 2K19
  5. Super Mario Party*
  6. Soul Calibur VI
  7. FIFA 19^
  8. Spider-Man
  9. Madden NFL 19^
  10. WWE 2K19
  11. Forza Horizon 4
  12. Lego DC Super Villains
  13. My Hero One's Justice
  14. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  15. Mario Kart 8*
  16. Grand Theft Auto V
  17. Super Mario Odyssey*
  18. Diablo III***
  19. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  20. NHL 19

All Platforms Year To Date

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
  2. Red Dead Redemption 2
  3. Far Cry 5
  4. Spider-Man
  5. NBA 2K19
  6. God of War
  7. Monster Hunter: World
  8. Madden NFL 19^
  9. Grand Theft Auto V
  10. Call of Duty: WWII

All Platforms Ending October 2018

  1. Call of Duty: WWII^
  2. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4^
  3. Red Dead Redemption 2
  4. Far Cry 5
  5. Star Wars: Battlefront II
  6. Super Mario Odyssey
  7. Spider-Man
  8. NBA 2K19
  9. God of War
  10. NBA 2K18

Xbox One October 2018

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  2. Red Dead Redemption II
  3. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  4. Forza Horizon 4
  5. NBA 2K19
  6. Madden NFL 19
  7. FIFA 19
  8. WWE 2K19
  9. Soul Calibur VI
  10. Shadow of the Tomb Raider

PS4 October 2018

  1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  2. Red Dead Redemption II
  3. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
  4. Spider-Man
  5. Soul Calibur VI
  6. NBA 2K19
  7. FIFA 19
  8. WWE 2K19
  9. Madden NFL 19
  10. My Hero One's Justice

Nintendo Switch October 2018

  1. Super Mario Party
  2. Mario Kart 8
  3. Super Mario Odyssey
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  5. Diablo III
  6. Starlink: Battle For Atlas
  7. Dark Souls Remastered
  8. The World Ends With You: Final Remix
  9. Lego DC Super Villains
  10. My Hero One's Justice

Nintendo 3DS October 2018

  1. Luigi's Mansion
  2. Pokemon: Ultra Sun
  3. Pokemon: Ultra Moon
  4. Mario Kart 7
  5. Minecraft
  6. Super Smash Bros.
  7. Super Mario 3D Land
  8. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon
  9. Mario Party: The Top 100
  10. New Super Mario Bros. 2

* Digital sales not included

^ PC digital sales not included

*** Diablo III sales include 100% of Physical and Digital on Sony and Microsoft consoles

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boshk

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your math has to be off. didnt RDR2 make like 750 million in the first 3 days. that would make up half of the month of october sales of 1.5 billion there alone. then i read that RDR2 sold 17 million copies in the first week. if it was just base copies sold and not the limited deluxe super extreme editions thats over a billion dollars in a week...

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BarcaAzul

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@boshk:

I think that was world wide and NPD is just the US I think

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deactivated-5d14bade6a0c4

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People will still be buying RDR2 when Black Ops 7 comes out.

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blitxxx1981

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Why don't COD have a "Zombies" stand alone title? I think it would sell like hell

I like horror games but have never been a fan of COD zombies and hate feeling like I'm paying for Zombie material I'll never play coming from my Pass...

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aromain150

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@blitxxx1981: Yeah a zombie stand alone title could be awesome. I share your opinion but in the opposite way. I am not a fan of multiplayer mode but I am only buying it for zombie mode and story mode, I feel like I am wasting money for gamemodes I don't play (or not much).

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blitxxx1981

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@aromain150: I understand. I've actually read a while back (years) that some players were buying COD just for the Zombies

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blitxxx1981

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Edited By blitxxx1981

Wows, RDR2 has a 4.7 over BO4's 2.7 review score on the Xbox Store, which don't matter to me because I feel both are awesome to me personally

And that's before RDR 2 Online's release still to come...

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ZorroDelBarrio

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So just asking, is Soul Calibur 6 on the ps4 any good?

Need a new fighting, and it looks nice but is it worth it?

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jmartin1016

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Edited By jmartin1016

@zorrodelbarrio: I love it, but I'm a little bias toward Soul Calibur in general. It's my favorite fighting game. I paid for the deluxe edition and have no regrets. It's going to be on sale this month so I would say go for it.

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ZorroDelBarrio

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@jmartin1016: thx bro will do

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Leeric420

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Well not too surprising. RDR 2 released on the 26th of October, Black Ops 4 on the 12th. COD and Sports games are more popular with the "casual" gaming crowd, which is a larger customer base than the single player gaming base, usually. Whats crazy to me is GTA V is still selling that high.

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blitxxx1981

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Edited By blitxxx1981

@Leeric420: Yeps, I'm also still shocked GTA V is STILL selling so well (I'd think any one that would ever want it already has it)

can't believe it only has a 2.9 review score on the Xbox Store though. I'm thinking that people were rating the campaign. I've read that most GTA V players never even completed the solo campaign.

I just wonder how GTA Online will fare once RDR2 Online comes, even though Rock* is going to try juggling both. I think GTA Online still has a life span though because it is a modern day open world urban play type & not everyone is going to be as interested in a western (though I believe I'll like RDR better personally)

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Leeric420

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Edited By Leeric420

@blitxxx1981: I really enjoyed GTA Vs campaign and played though it twice. Once on PS3 and again in first person on PC both purchased the day they launched. Ive played a lot of GTA Online on both systems too, I havent played it that much lately though.

I dont think GTA Online will suffer a huge dip, just because I think more of that "casual" gaming crowd or however you want to reference it would be more interested in GTA Online as opposed to a Western (RDR) Online, just because I think it simulates more to the current world. So im in agreement with you there for sure. I really like both franchises and played both previous iterations of their online component and will probably play more RDR2 just because its newer. And so far RDR2 might be my favorite game from Rockstar but im sort of biased to the wild west setting lol. I am curious if theyll go with a more survival system in RDR Online since the story mode went that way. Or if itll be set up similar to GTA Online.

The 2.9 score is probably from people who got banned from GTA Online lol but thats just a guess.

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BarcaAzul

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@blitxxx1981:

Personally completed the campaign to 100 on two systems. I can imagine that some people wouldn't a second time, but I personally loved the SP. I guess if you are buying a new console, GTA V may be on a lot of people's list

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blitxxx1981

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@barcaazul: I liked V, but absolutely hated GTA IV (the mechanics & graphics were just awful to me). Vice City is still my fave though (I'm old, lols) :-P

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Edited By Leeric420

@blitxxx1981: Vice City is hands down my favorite setting and story. I just like all the options and interactions GTA V has, just a product of them being able to implement that stuff with new technology. If I could take all that stuff and graphics and drop it into Vice City...that would be perfect lol. (Especially since ive now been to Miami)

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BarcaAzul

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Edited By BarcaAzul

@blitxxx1981:

I totally understand that, I really strugglled at the part of the map in IV. It got better after things opened up, but the social events really annoyed me. I liked the way they tied the story DLC in.

Vice city in its day was fantastic, and I'd love a remake, but would struggle to go back to it now. Soundtrack was amazing though

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blitxxx1981

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@barcaazul: Totally agree that Vice City has an A+ soundtrack that actually includes several songs from the Scarface soundtrack B-) Really fits in with the story type, the Miami imitated setting, and time era B-)

I was disappointed a few years ago when the iDevices & Droid's got the VC 10th Anniversary edition because they did enhance it (I know they improved the graphics but not as a full remaster, but not sure if they enhanced anything else for it), Still wish it was released to all systems though; it could had been released for PC (the original PC version has issues on some modern PC's), an Xbox Live Arcade version, and PSN digital. I would've bought it.

Still can't find likeness in GTA IV though personally mainly because I felt all of the vehicle handling was terrible, even in the Lost & Damned bikes :-( Plus I thought the GFX were just plain fugly & didn't really like the story (got really tired of my cousin Bellic, lmao) :-(

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Leeric420

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@blitxxx1981: I didnt like the main character in GTA 4. I just didnt care for Niko, couldnt get behind him. I dont really have a good reason why lol.

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blitxxx1981

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@Leeric420: lmao, you's don't like the cousin Bellic, no? lols... I got tired of hearing his name :-P

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BarcaAzul

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@blitxxx1981: Yeah I didn't go near the tablet versions or the touched up versions, partly because I had vice city stories on the PSP.

I would love to see a real remake that looks and plays like GTA V, with an enhanced story and everything.

I know what you mean about GTA IV, the city was grim to look at and the car handling was really floaty. I did manage to enjoy the DLC though, despite this. I think it was because I liked the new radio stations

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blitxxx1981

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@barcaazul: no, me either... I'm not a "mobile" gamer... tried some but just not my feel

I loved the PSP, and wish Xbox would make a hand held though

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BarcaAzul

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@blitxxx1981:

I never really understood why the GTA remakes never made it onto the Vita. I think it would have sold more for both parties.

Xbox handheld could be interesting, but seems Ninty have the market sowed up, plus mobile of course

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blitxxx1981

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@barcaazul: Good point: LCS & VCS should've at least had "enhanced" patches for the Vita because they weren't great performance wise on the original PSP, and maybe the Vita hardware could've even gave graphics enhancements...

I'm glad Chinatown was ported to the PSP, because I'll never get a Nintendo, lols... I think it's cool that at least several GTA's have been ported & enhanced to mobile, but I am not a mobile fan

Too bad the Vita failed so miserably because I'm not a Nintendo fan (I don't want to be limited to toddler games). Seems Xbox is the only one that's stayed away from handheld but I think they should give it a shot

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blitxxx1981

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Edited By blitxxx1981

@barcaazul: Actually that gives me a snazzy idea I wish Rockstar would do:

Remaster a compilation with a tad modernization of GTA 3, Liberty City Stories, Vice City, Vice City Stories, San Andreas (not the 360 joke version) & Chinatown Wars for the PS4, Xbox One, & PC (Switch if Nintendo allowed it, but they're so picky when it comes to "Adult" games even though they're loosening up a little). It would sell like hell

LCS & VCS both had terrible AA (jagged line gfx) & frame rate issues on both the PSP & PS2 so it could use touching up and ported, and Chinatown Wars has only been handheld so it deserves to be ported imo (though the PSP version of CTW runs good on "that" PC emulator)

I wouldn't cry if they left out "GTA III" because it's just too much old school for this day or "San Andreas" because it's just not one of my faves but I know it is for many other people though

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CottonFly

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Pew-pew games are short term flurry sellers. RDR2 will still sell loads after Black Ops 4 have been forgotten entirely.

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bmfalex

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@cottonfly: Not if they stick to Blackout.

And RDR2 is just a playable movie...just like most console games. Snoozefest.

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jbreez00

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The best thing about CoD being on the top of that list (it's really the worst, but funniest to me), is that the most played mode is blackout.

Activision may have dropped the ball with destiny, but I've gotta give them credit for being able to charge upwards of 130 dollars to convince people to play their version of fortnite and Pubg, that is truly a feat worthy of recognition.

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bmfalex

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@jbreez00: 60$ for 3 games in 1, yeah, not a good deal at all.

You just spew hate to feel special? You are just embarasing yourself.

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jbreez00

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@bmfalex: You're the one that seems to be embarrassing yourself here, I said what they've done is a feat worthy of recognition, not hating on CoD at all. I didn't mention one negative thing about the game, so I'm not "spewing hate" like you claimed.

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struvokreborn

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Edited By struvokreborn

call of duty will always be a top seller.

it could literally be nothing more than a sack of dog crap wrapped inside of a case that says "Call Of Duty" on the cover, and it would still rake in top dollars from all of the parents buying the game for their children every year.

not surprised why it outsold RDR2 for the month of october, considering RDR2 was only released 4 days before the end of the month, it was released on less platforms, and less people are going to be interested in a country western themed shooter

how is this even an article? in other news, water is wet. why do i even click these articles? you're going to have to do better work than that if you want me to turn off my noscript and ublock.

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redhedjack

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Edited By redhedjack

We are the problem.

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Xshinobi

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It really isn't that surprising seeing that since 2009 there has only been one year where CoD wasn't the best selling game. Can we talk about Farcry 5 being number 5 tho.

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blitxxx1981

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Edited By blitxxx1981

@xshinobi: I loved the FC5 campaign & the solo Arcade maps def helps keep it fresh for me (but I don't care for the multiplayer)

I didn't really care for any of the 3 Pass expansions either, but Ubi still packed the materials for map makers to build snazzy maps to use the materials from the expansions B-)

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Sevenizz

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@xshinobi: What’s to talk about?

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sakaiXx

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Btw "The PS4 and Xbox One posted "significant gains," but other platforms declined." quote here means that Switch is on a decline YOY? wow. Can't wait for November numbers, Switch with Pokemon vs PS4 bundles.

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sakaiXx

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Considering Red Dead Redemption 2 releases in Oct 26, its a pretty amazing number.

And wow Spidey already overtakes GoW and other sports multiplats, I can see Spidey overtakes an exclusive like GoW or nintendo stuff but multiplats?? damn

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Flyin3lvl

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Black Ops 4 Outsells Red Dead Redemption 2 In October; PS4 Tops The Hardware Chart In The US

its launch came at the end of the month (October 26) compared to an early-October release (October 12) for Black Ops 4.

As for Red Dead Redemption 2, it's now the second best-selling game of 2018. Its launch-month sales were three times higher than the first-month sales of Red Dead Redemption 1 in 2010.

while Red Dead Redemption 2 is a once-a-console-generation-type game, so better-than-normal results were expected.

Black Ops 4 Outsells Red Dead Redemption 2 In October;

clicked baited ...hook line and sink (scroll) to comments

games in the US in October 2018 came out to $1.55 billion, which was up 73 percent. October 2018 represented the best month ever since NPD started tracking video game sales in 1995, but remember they still need to add micro transactions, The previous record was $1.36 billion from October 2008.

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Deedubau

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@Flyin3lvl: Yup gamespot did this on purpose to get the clicks.

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Lord_Sesshy

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Edited By Lord_Sesshy

Well duh, Black Ops 4 had 19 days of sale in October where RDR2 only had 5. Not to mention it's on PC too.

Though I am surprised it sold so well because of the games decline over the years and the lack of a campaign.

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blitxxx1981

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@Lord_Sesshy: I'm not shocked about COD selling so well without a campaign. I read most people never even played the WWII campaign. I really don't blame the dev's for COD excluding one because I think most players get it for the multi or zombies

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ZmanBarzel

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@Lord_Sesshy: PC digital sales weren’t included for BLOPS IV.

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Lord_Sesshy

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@zmanbarzel: Well, judging that they said all platforms I would have assumed they would include PC if the game was out for it. I should also add that the "asterisks" at the end of the article were not there when I posted my comment, they were edited in. And no where in the article does it say "console only", plus adding phrases like "With console, portable, and PC sales combined", it can make it a bit confusing.

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