Surprise: Most played Xbox Live game this week isn't Call of Duty

Here's something of a surprise: A game in which you don't kill things with guns is the most played game on Xbox Live this week. Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, the console version of the massively popular PC game has eclipsed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as the most played game on Xbox Live. Microsoft's Major Nelson released the charts for this week's most played game.

Minecraft is an indie sandbox title originally released on PC by Mojang. Minecraft on Xbox 360, developed by 4J Studios, allows players freedom from a typical gaming experience. Games like Call of Duty provide engaging story to supplement core mechanics like moving and shooting, but Minecraft is all mechanics: digging, building and crafting. The story and world are yours to create. Players are encouraged to team up with others to craft their world of choice. Simple as it sounds, Minecraft is the best-selling Xbox Live Arcade title with a resounding 4 million copies sold.

On Xbox Live, mature-rated, mass appeal games tend to be the most played games, so it's refreshing to see such a different game take the throne. We'll see whether Minecraft has lasting power to remain on top of this list, with powerhouses such as Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops II set to hit shelves in mere weeks.

[Via: Lazygamer]
[Photo Credit: Fallen Kingdom]

Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition's position as the most played Xbox Live title this week is no small feat. However, do you think this signifies a shift in mass appeal? Are consumers more interested in casual gaming? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.