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It had been over five years since the last "Grand Theft Auto" game hit store shelves, and all that pent-up demand did wonders for sales of the franchise's fifth installment, which went on sale at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

Take-Two Interactive Software announced Wednesday that the first day of "Grand Theft Auto V" sales topped $800 million worldwide (excluding Japan and Brazil, where launch is upcoming).

At about $60 a pop, that translates to more than 13 million units. It is the highest first-day retail sales in the company's history and the GTA series, which had sold 125 million units before this release.

The revenue numbers also make "Grand Theft Auto V" the biggest video game launch ever, exceeding the record set last November by Activision's "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," which hit $500 million its first 24 hours and a record $1 billion its first 15 days.

The question is whether "Grand Theft Auto V" will be able to maintain its momentum over the next two weeks and beat Activision with its consistently record-setting game. Then we'll see whether Activision's next massive release, "Call of Duty: Ghosts," can match $800 million its first day.

The game's launch came the same day as the mass shooting in the Washington Navy Yard and just hours after reports that the suspect, Aaron Alexis, often played violent video games.

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While these kinds of horrific shootings always raise questions about a regulatory crackdown, such events have never affected game sales.

MKM Partners analyst Eric Handler said, "I don't think that the Navy Yard shooting will stir up debate again about violence in video games. Unfortunately, that tends to only happen when a kid is involved as a shooter. I haven't heard of any outcries. ... The overriding thing is that this is someone who had a mental illness, not someone who played video games."

One gamer we spoke to outside a GameStop in Los Angeles on Monday night said that realistic games could be a safe way to avoid real-world violence.

"First-person shooters just don't do it for me anymore, that's why I'm excited about GTA, cause it gives you a different perspective. It's not just people running around shooting each other—you can steal cars, rob banks—so all the stuff you wish you could do and get away with in society," said George Lizama.

[Read more: Grand Theft Auto controversies]

"Grand Theft Auto V"'s setting this record speaks to three major trends in the video game industry, which has otherwise been struggling with massive sales declines as consumers shift their spending to digital add-ons, and free or cheap apps.

First, big brands rule. During the past few years, consumers have bought fewer games, but they're continuing to spend big on established titles.

[Read more: 'Grand Theft Auto V' stands ready to break records]

Second, digital content makes games more appealing. "Grand Theft Auto V" has more digital add-ons than ever, and that makes it a better value proposition to the consumer.

And third, while people have held off on buying new consoles, with the next Microsoft Xbox and Sony PlayStation coming this fall, every year the user base with consoles grows and enables a bigger game launch.

Follow Julia Boorstin on Twitter: @JBoorstin