Sales for Call of Duty: WWII are already well ahead of those for the previous installment in the video game series, Infinite Warfare. Depending on who you ask, Call of Duty: WWII was either a big risk for publisher Activision, a game they should have made years ago, or too little too late. As the title indicates, the series has finally moved back to its roots with a game set during the Second World War, the first such game in the series since World at War in 2008.

The last several Call of Duty games have featured modern conflicts, or futuristic space wars, and fans were getting tired of the increasingly over-the-top feel of it all. Enter developer Sledgehammer Games’ latest entry into the series. No matter what you think of Call of Duty: WWII, it can’t be said that the game was a failure. In addition to pulling in decent reviews, the game can now also boast one important stat: it’s sold incredibly well.

As reported by Business Wire, Call of Duty: WWII has sold more copies than its predecessor, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. In its first three days, WWII has raked in over $500 million in sales. That’s twice as much as Infinite Warfare, and has set the record for the highest selling digital game on the PlayStation 4 in its first day of availability. Said Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg:

Call of Duty WWII action

“We challenged our players to get their squads back together and they answered the call, with the highest number of players we’ve ever seen on current gen consoles and PC.”

On one hand, this news isn’t very surprising. Call of Duty, despite its last few years of perceived mediocrity, has long been the biggest selling entertainment property in the world. Even with all the backlash over its loot box system, WWII was always going to sell well. The marketing campaign Activision one, saying they were listening to their fans and “going back to their roots” resonated with players.

What is surprising is just how well the game has performed. Compared to EA’s Battlefield 1, which took a real risk by taking the franchise to the rarely seen World War I setting, Call of Duty’s return to World War II almost seems quaint. Nevertheless, it’s Activision’s game that’s won the day, and at this rate, it will likely surpass $1 billion in sales before the end of the month.

It’s easy to be cynical about Call of Duty these days, especially with its aforementioned, liberal use of loot boxes. Still, there’s something about the latest entry in the franchise that feels special. Despite the familiar setting, Sledgehammer really did try to mix things up. There’s a playable female French resistance fighter in the single player campaign, a level set in a concentration camp, and a ton of new multiplayer modes. It likely won’t get the cultural appreciation that Call of Duty 4 still enjoys, but Call of Duty: WWII is a real turning point for the series.

MORE: Everything to Know Before Playing CoD: WWII

Source: Business Wire