GTA V makes $800 million in first day

Grand Theft Auto 5, the blockbuster sequel to Rockstar Games' ultra popular sandbox crime franchise, managed to rake in an enormous £496 million in its first 24 hours alone.

That's roughly $800 million - nearly $1 billion.

The game cost £170 million to develop and bring to market, soaring past some high budget  Hollywood blockbusters, such as Avatar.

Fans across the United Kingdom queued up earlier this week for a midnight launch. So far every corner of the press is laying praise on the game.

GTA V has impressed pundits with its sheer scope and technical achievements, with Rockstar having created one of the biggest videogames ever on hardware that's winding down to give way to the next generation.

Publisher Take Two's chairman and CEO, Strauss Zelnick, said: "In North America alone, more than 8,300 stores opened their doors at midnight to welcome fans. 

Gamers getting to grips with GTA V can look forward to Grand Theft Auto Online, which Rockstar and Take Two promise is a rich open world experience, free to customers, 1 October 2013.