Enter The Matrix(TM) Sets Historical Mark by Reaching 1 Million Units Sold-Through Faster Than Any Other Movie-Based Game
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2003-- Atari's Enter The Matrix, a third-person action game that parallels Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' action blockbuster, The Matrix Reloaded, is the No. 1 selling video game worldwide, selling more than 1 million units in North America and Europe in the first week of availability. The game was made available in stores May 15, in conjunction with the release of The Matrix Reloaded, for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCube(TM) and the personal computer. Enter The Matrix will be available in Japan on June 19.
"We are thrilled by these early sell-through numbers," said Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and CEO of IESA and Atari. "These initial sales results exemplify the power of the Wachowski Brothers' vision for the franchise. With the exceptional box office results of The Matrix Reloaded and the explosive sales of Enter The Matrix, we are witnessing the true convergence of Hollywood and gaming. This is the beginning of our sales success as we expect continued strong returns for the duration of the year, based on the success of The Matrix Reloaded and the upcoming release of The Matrix Revolutions(TM)."
"The Wachowski Brothers wanted to tell the epic story of the Matrix trilogy in multiple mediums, and Enter The Matrix is a key component in their visionary storytelling scheme," said Joel Silver, producer of the Matrix films. "The record-breaking success of both The Matrix Reloaded and Enter The Matrix is a testament to the strength of the Wachowskis' vision and game developer Shiny Entertainment's commitment to furthering their story in an incredibly innovative, visceral and exciting way."
Enter The Matrix is the No. 1 selling video game worldwide and claims a spot as one of the most explosive video game launches in history. Online and brick-and-mortar retailers have reported overwhelming sales statistics for the game, with Enter The Matrix outselling its closest competitors on PlayStation®2 by two-to-one and on Xbox(TM) by four-to-one.
Developed by award-winning Shiny Entertainment (an Atari studio), Enter The Matrix is a revolution in interactive entertainment - a third-person action game that effectively blurs the line between Hollywood blockbuster films and next generation video games. The game is directed and features a script written by the Wachowski Brothers, writers/directors of The Matrix movie trilogy, creating the most intensive collaboration between a video game publisher and a movie studio to date. The game features the same over-the-top gunplay, mind-bending martial arts, and insane driving and stunts that made The Matrix famous.
Enter The Matrix includes approximately one hour of never-before-seen footage - shot exclusively for the game - using the actors, sets and crew from the blockbuster film, The Matrix Reloaded. In addition, the game features an hour of cineractives, directed by the Wachowskis and rendered within the game engine to help tell the epic story of Enter The Matrix.
Enter The Matrix carries an estimated retail price of $49.99 and an ESRB rating "T" for Teen. More information about Enter The Matrix is available at
www.enterthematrixgame.com. To learn more about The Matrix Reloaded, visit
www.thematrix.com.
