There has been a lot of buzz in the video game industry about the new release of the new version of the Grand Theft Auto IV game launch, even being coined as “potentially record breaking” from a few top industry insiders. While I know many of you have been chomping at the bit to get your mits on the game, it’s finally here and on the final day of release just days ago, has successfully broken the Guiness record for the “Highest Revenue Generated By an Entertainment Product in 24 Hours.”

While I knew Guinness has all kinds of insane records (see former post about giant backgammon board in England..), I still am caught aback at the 3.6 million unit sales earning 310 million dollars in the first day of release! Wow!

Followed closely behind were the favorite games we all know and love:

= Fastest-selling video game in 24 hours: Halo 3 at $170 million
= Fastest-selling theatrical movie in 24 hours: Spider-Man 3 at $60 million
= Fastest-selling book in 24 hours: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows at $220 million

As we are rapidly seeing the video game and home entertainment business growing and expanding, one can only wonder what lies in store for game lovers in the future. Congratulations to the Grand Theft Auto IV at winning their name in the big book of records, and all of you enjoying the game, I’m sure they thank you for helping them break that barrier.

Thanks to Ben Kuchera at Arstechnica for the original article/breaking news and to find out more you can find that here:

“Grand Theft Auto IV series a Guinness World Record giant”