HMV has forecast Modern Warfare 2 will become the first game to top one million week-one UK sales – taking the title as the industry’s fastest-selling software release of all time.

The retailer today predicted that the games would smash previous sales records held by GTA IV – supporting publishers’ belief that the game will shift 1.7 million units in its first five days on shelves.

HMV's Gennaro Castaldo said: "Modern Warfare 2 raises the bar for all games, not only for the astonishing demand we are seeing from gamers all around the country, but for its technical brilliance also.

"With more than a million unit sales likely in its first week alone, HMV confidently predicts it will go on to become the biggest-selling title ever in games history."

The retailer last night hosted the official UK Prestige midnight launch of the game at its Trocadero store in Piccadilly Circus, London. It opened 140 of its stores around the country for the launch.

According to GfK-ChartTrack, that title generated 926,000 unit sales in its first five days on sale – taking £40 million at tills.