Battlefield 3 has sold 5 million units

Battlefield 3 has sold through five million units worldwide in its first week on sale, according to EA estimates. This makes the DICE shooter EA’s fastest-selling game in the publisher’s history.

“From Tokyo to Los Angeles, Sydney to London, millions of fans have been playing all weekend long – we are overwhelmed by the global response to Battlefield 3,” said Patrick Soderlund, executive vice president of the EA Games Label. “It is extremely gratifying to deliver an entertainment experience that delights our fans, and to have the opportunity to introduce new people to the franchise.”

Soderlund added: “Already, we are seeing unprecedented play times and online activity which is very rewarding. This launch solidifies Battlefield as a leading entertainment brand.”

EA points to strong reviews – averaging above 85 on console and above 90 on PC – plus word-of-mouth from gamers; Battlefield 3 now has more than 2.5 million likes on Facebook.

Battlefield 3 is out now for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game entered the UK Video Game Chart at No.1 and has already shipped 10 million units worldwide.

EA is understandably pleased with the record-breaking start for Battlefield 3, which has surely given the franchise a platform from which it can really challenge Call of Duty in the years to come.