'Grand Theft Auto V' sales blow past $1 billion in three days

gta-v

Malathi Nayak Reuters

4 hours ago

MIKE BLAKE / Mike Blake / Reuters

Game enthusiasts purchase 'Grand Theft Auto V' at the Game Stop store in Encinitas, Calif., in this photo taken Sept. 17, 2013.

"Grand Theft Auto V" has crossed the $1 billion sales mark after three days in stores, a rate faster than any other video game, film or other entertainment product has ever managed, its creator Take Two Interactive said on Friday.?

The latest installment of GTA, a cultural phenomenon that has sparked a national debate on adult content and violence, received strong reviews and racked up $800 million in first-day sales alone.?

That marked a launch-day record for the Grand Theft Auto franchise which is Take Two's most lucrative and allows players to cruise around a make-believe game world based on real-life locations such as Los Angeles.?

Gamers had eagerly awaited the fifth installment of the 16-year-old game after "Grand Theft Auto IV" was released in 2008.?

[Related story:?Gamer stabbed, robbed of 'Grand Theft Auto V' just minutes after buying game]

It took more than five years to be developed by Take-Two's Rockstar Games studio at a cost of between $200 million and $250 million, according to some analysts' estimates.?

Last year, it took Activision Blizzard's first-person shooter title "Call Of Duty: Black Ops II" 15 days to hit $1 billion in global sales after its November release. That game took in sales of $500 million on its first day.?

While GTA V is off to a flying start, industry analysts are keeping a close eye on Take-Two's ability to sustain sales momentum.?

"Grand Theft Auto V" is currently only available on Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 consoles, owned by over 160 million gamers. Take-Two is yet to announce a version for the much-awaited next-generation Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles, which will go on sale in November.?

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

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