Summary

  • Activision Blizzard dominates the top 10 best-selling games of 2023 in the US, with three titles in the list, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4.
  • Circana's monthly chart provides insights into game sales in the US, although it may not be entirely accurate due to the lack of digital sales data from platforms like Xbox and Nintendo Switch.
  • While Modern Warfare 3's sales may have declined compared to its predecessor, the Call of Duty franchise's popularity still propelled it to the second highest-selling game spot, with a chance to overtake Hogwarts Legacy.

Activision Blizzard continued its run as one of the most influential games publishers, as three of its games are in the top 10 best-selling titles of 2023 so far. Thanks to the many popular franchises that the publisher has under its belt, like Call of Duty and Diablo, Activision Blizzard is a force to be reckoned with.

Circana is a research company that releases a monthly chart showing the best-selling games to date in the United States. It should be noted that some platforms, like Xbox and Nintendo Switch, do not share digital sales numbers with Circana. This has a great effect on games like Starfield, due to many of its users playing through Game Pass. So while Circana's list isn't completely accurate, it still sheds plenty of light on how most games are performing in the United States.

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Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 comes in as the second highest-selling game of 2023 so far, despite it being released only a month ago. Activision Blizzard's Diablo 4 sits at number six, and last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 sits at number seven. Although it failed to secure the number one spot from Warner Bros. Games' Hogwarts Legacy, it could be argued that this makes Activision Blizzard the most influential games publisher of 2023 so far. However, it has plenty of competition.

microsoft activision games lineup

What are the best-selling games of 2023 in the US?

  1. Hogwarts Legacy
  2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
  3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  4. Marvel's Spider-Man 2
  5. Madden NFL 24
  6. Diablo 4
  7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
  8. Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
  9. Mortal Kombat 1
  10. Starfield

Although Activision Blizzard finished with three games in the top 10, the 11-20 rankings are devoid of the publisher's name. Two of Electronic Arts' games can be found in this range, tallying EA's total to four games in the top 20, compared to Activision Blizzard's three games in the top 20. If it weren't for EA Sports FC's sales taking a hit after the soccer game rebranded from its FIFA title, EA likely would have matched Activision Blizzard's position in the top 10.

Modern Warfare 3's sales were down this year in the UK, and presumably took a downturn in the United States as well, compared to last year's Modern Warfare 2. However, the Call of Duty franchise's massive brand power was still enough to propel Modern Warfare 3 to be the second best-selling game in the United States so far.

With the Winter holidays approaching, Modern Warfare 3 still has time to dethrone Hogwarts Legacy from its top spot in 2023. However, Hogwarts Legacy just had a successful launch on the Switch and remains a popular game, so this may be too steep of a challenge for Modern Warfare 3 to overcome.

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Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) Tag Page Cover Art
6 /10

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III
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First-Person Shooter
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 58 /100 Critics Rec: 14%
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Released
November 10, 2023
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
Developer(s)
Sledgehammer Games
Publisher(s)
Activision
Engine
iw 9.0
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play
PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world.  In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet

Genre(s)
First-Person Shooter