Modern Warfare 2 sees Leicester Square premiere
Dizzee Rascal performs at industry bash following midnight release
Activision's much-anticipated shooter, Modern Warfare 2, has launched in the UK following a premiere in London's Leicester Square.
The event, hosted by Vernon Kaye, took place in the Vue Cinema - a location normally reserved for the opening night of Hollywood blockbusters.
Afterwards, while a handful of people queued at nearby HMV, the publisher hosted an industry bash on Baker Street, with Dizzee Rascal taking to the stage after the countdown to midnight had passed.
The game's launch period has been beset by controversy, with some elements of the UK mainstream press focusing on one scene featuring terrorists at an airport and civilian fatalities, while a selection of retailers broke street dates to sell the game ahead of its official release.
The game is expected to be the biggest-selling title of 2009, with several other publishers pushing releases back from the traditional pre-Christmas hotspot to avoid competing with it.