(Makes changes throughout.)
By Ben Fox Rubin
Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO) said its "Grand Theft
Auto V" videogame booked world-wide retail sales of more than $1
billion in the first three days on the shelf, a mark the company
claimed to hit faster than any other entertainment property,
including feature films.
Take-Two previously said the fifth version of the popular Grand
Theft Auto franchise brought in $800 million in sales in its first
day of release.
GTA V hit the billion-dollar mark in sales faster than
Activision Blizzard Inc.'s (ATVI) "Call of Duty: Black Ops II,"
which took 15 days to accomplish that feat in December. In
comparison, the blockbuster 2009 movie "Avatar," the
highest-grossing film ever, reached $1 billion in 17 days.
In July, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said GTA V could be the
biggest title the company has ever released. The series has drawn
critical praise for its authentic game worlds, rich voice-acting
and wide-open style of play.
GTA V is available for Sony Corp.'s (SNE) PlayStation and
Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) Xbox.
Take-Two shares recently added 4 cents to $17.47. The stock is
up 58% so far this year.
Write to Ben Fox Rubin at ben.rubin@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires