Following the launch of GTA IV at the end of last month Rockstar Games and Take Two announced that it had sold 6 million units worldwide amounting to a retail value of over $500 million in the first week.

Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take Two said “Grand Theft Auto IV’s first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date.”

Guinness World Records yesterday confirmed Take Two’s claims with the announcement that Grand Theft Auto IV has taken its place among the greats in the Guinness World Records.

GTA IV sold 3.6 million units worth $310 million in its first day of release. These sales figures have earned it the Guinness World Records for the Highest Grossing Video Game in 24 Hours and the Highest Revenue Generated by an Entertainment Product in 24 Hours.

These records make GTA IV the most profitable entertainment release of all-time, surpassing the releases of other video games, films and books.

According to Guinness World Records, Halo 3 was the fastest-selling video game in 24 hours with $170 million while Spider-Man 3 racked up $60 million to become the best-selling theatrical movie in 24 hours and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the fastest-selling book in 24 hours with $220 million.