: http://news.xbox.com/2013/07/games-halo-4-top-seller

: It sold more copies than Halo 3 during each respective launch year. It's
: curious that the news was released July 2 2013 (a full four months before
: Halo 4 would have had a year on the shelves), but not a surprising result
: given the much larger Xbox 360 consumer base in 2012 vs 2007.

I think then this is where one would need to define 'success'.

It may have still sold more overall - is that more successful?
The other may have sold more in relation to its market size at the time - is that more successful?

If "top seller" is simply that it sold more, then it's correct. But if the market grew exponentially, but then a smaller 'segment' bought the game (even though more people then before), then that's a different kind of success (or lack)