When the Grand Theft Auto series debuts a new title, it means business, and its latest title is nothing short of big pimpin’.
Grand Theft Auto V has grossed $800 million in its first 24 hours on store shelves, says Take-Two Interactive. The revenue equates to roughly 13 million units sold, a feat that only 7 other games in history have surpassed during their lifetime.
CEO Strauss Zelnick made the following statement:
All of us at Take-Two are thrilled with the initial response to Grand Theft Auto V. Once again, the team at Rockstar Games have outdone themselves, setting the entertainment industry’s new standard for creativity, innovation and excellence. Beginning at midnight on Monday, consumers around the world gathered in anticipation to be among the first to experience the evolution of this remarkable series. In North America alone, more than 8,300 stores opened their doors at midnight to welcome fans whose loyalty and enthusiasm were rewarded with what The New York Times called ‘the most immersive spectacle in interactive entertainment’. We are incredibly proud of Rockstar Games’ creative achievement and could not be more pleased with the success of this launch.
The second highest-grossing game release in history? Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 with $500 million in a single day. $800 million isn’t only gargantuan, it extends beyond the scope of the video game industry. It shatters the record for anything in the entire entertainment industry.
Just days ago, an analyst predicted that GTA V would generate $1 billion during its first month. Hah. That’s a safe estimate. You might want to rethink those numbers.
