By Nolan Strong
Rock Star Games’ controversial Grand Theft Auto IV video game has officially made the Guinness World Records list, after an explosive first week of sales.
Consumers snapped up 3.6 million units of GTA IV in 24 hours, helping the video game earn $310 million dollars on its first day of release.
The figures make GTA IV the most profitable entertainment release of all time, surpassing records set by other video game, film and book first day releases.
The sales feat has earned GTA IV the record for Highest Grossing Video Game in 24 Hours and the Highest Revenue Generated by a Product in 24 Hours.
The record sends Hip-Hop DJ Green Lantern into the history books as well, as the popular Hip-Hop DJ has his own programmed station in the game, which is accessible anytime a user steals a car and turns on the radio.
“Rockstar really killed it with this one,” DJ Green Lantern told AllHipHop.com. “From all the tech advances to the music, to the timing of the release, they deserve to break records with this.. Oh yeah and I'm in it too [laughs].”
The enormous sales of GTA IV eclipsed previous records.
The record for the fastest selling book in 24 hours is held by Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, which earned $220 million dollars in 24 hours.
The previous record for video games was set by Halo 3, which earned over $170 million dollars in 24 Hours.
In film, the record is held by Spider Man 3, which grossed $60 million dollars in 24 hours.