In what the New York Times has called "the most immersive spectacle in interactive entertainment", Grand Theft Auto V was released yesterday to a gargantuan $800 million in sales, more than doubling the amount of it's predecessor, GTA IV, and cementing it's rightful place as one of the best selling games of all time.
The staggering figures have even put parent company Take Two Interactive on their heels. "We couldn't be more pleased with the launch," said chairperson Strauss Zelnick. "Once again, the team at Rockstar have outdone themselves."
In comparison, Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops II raked in $500 million in launch day sales, breaking it's previous record of $400 million with Modern Warfare 3. In other media, Man of Steel made $200 million on opening day, and James Cameron's Avatar made just under $800 million in the U.S., and about $2.7 billion worldwide, during it's entire run, making it the most profitable movie of all time.
GTA V has recieved overwhelmingly positive reviews, netting a perfect 10 score on IGN.com and a 99/100 on Metacritic. The game follows fellow criminals Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Phillips, on a series of heists that rock the fictional city of Los Santos. Sales are expected to exceed $1 billion in the first month.
In completely un-related news, Employers worldwide fear a medical epidemic, as the majority of their employees have called in sick.