By Stevie Smith Jan 23, 2008, 9:35 GMT
Long considered the king of Xbox Live multiplayer, Bungie’s seemingly unstoppable Halo franchise has remained an online force to be reckoned with for more than half a decade.
Halo 3 falls to the Live assault of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Credit: Activision.
That dominance has most recently been extended through the appearance of the hugely anticipated Halo 3 and its innovative Forge feature, combining successfully to slay any rival games looking to stake a claim to Live’s coveted throne.
But are cracks beginning to appear in Bungie’s well-worn battle armour? Well, according to Xbox Live aficionado Major Nelson, Halo 3 has this week been deposed by Activision’s impressive Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
Based on weekly unique user figures, Call of Duty 4 has pushed Halo 3 into second on the Top Live Titles chart, with Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Gears of War, and Rock Band rounding out the top five.
When considering the rise of Modern Warfare, which could well see its position quickly overwhelmed by the persistent popularity of the Halo phenomenon, it’s worth noting that Activision’s critically acclaimed FPS title does not have the obvious audience and appeal benefits associated with being an Xbox 360 exclusive.
In related news, weekly unique user figures issued by Microsoft reveal that Halo 2 remains the top pick for Xbox Live users in the Original Xbox Top Live Titles chart, while Metal Slug 3 is the frontrunner on the Top Arcade Titles listing.
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