Activision’s announced Modern Warfare 3 made $400 million in its first 24 hours in the US and UK, selling 6.5 million units in the process.

The sales figure is up 900,000 units on last year’s Black Ops, and is a million more than what Battlefield 3 did in its first five days.

The $400 million mark is a staggering statistic that makes the Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer collaboration the third straight year Activision has made “day one launch records across all forms of entertainment,” according to the press release it sent out.

Black Ops sold 5.6 million units in 2010 when it made $360 million in its first day, while Modern Warfare 2 sold 4.7 million and made $310 million when it released in 2009.

Activision boss Bobby Kotick claims LTD sales for the entire CoD franchise “exceed worldwide theatrical box office for “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings,” two of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time.

“Other than Call of Duty, there has never been another entertainment franchise that has set opening day records three years in a row,” he added.

Acti Publishing Eric Hirshberg added: “Call of Duty is more than a game. It’s become a major part of the pop cultural landscape. It is a game that core enthusiasts love, but that also consistently draws new people into the medium. It is the most intense, adrenaline pumping entertainment experience anywhere.

“I would like to thank our incredible teams at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games for making a brilliant game. But most of all, I would like to thank our millions of passionate fans worldwide. We made this game for you.”

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MW3 went on sale worldwide on Tuesday for PS3, 360, Wii – that particular version made by Treyarch – and PC.