No, it’s not some new character introduction to online play by Bungie and JK Rowling – the latest Harry Potter book is due for release at 12:01am tomorrow and could be all set to topple the sales record of Halo 2 which made $125 million in the first day of release, a record which still stands. But all this could change as Harry Potter shoves his wand up Master Chief’s backside and says “Move over, mate”.
If predictions (and pre-order records) are correct, the sixth book in JK Rowlings hugely popular series could rake in three times as much as Halo 2 did upon day of release. Those in the know are predicting sales of 10 million copies worldwide which even if cut to half price in some stores would still produce $150 million.
Many retailers around the world are reporting pre-order sales of anywhere between 500,000 to 2 million with English bookstore chain Waterstones predicting that Scholastic, the publishers of the book, will most likely run out of copies even though they have ordered 10.8 million to be printed ahead of release to cope with demand. Many places are also limiting customers to just one book each to ensure there are enough to go around.
So if Harry, Ron and Hermione do manage to beat Master Chief in the sales? The baton may well be passed to them for now but if there is to be a Halo 3 one day, we’re betting Master Chief will be snatching it right back from the magical brats and racing his Warthog off into the distance before you can say Expecto Patronum. Or something.
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