The fifth installment of the series is on par to become the highest-grossing video game in its debut

Within 24 hours of its much-hyped release, Grand Theft Auto V generated $800 million in sales worldwide, becoming the fastest-selling and highest-grossing title of any game in its debut.

The previous record belonged to Activation Blizzard Inc.’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which made $500 million on its first day but reached the $1 billion mark within 15 days. Some media analysts anticipate Grand Theft Auto V to hit the same milestone well before then, selling about 18 million copies of the video game.

Publisher Take-Two Interactive spent an exhaustive five years and as much as $250 million to develop and market the game, according to Sterne Agee & Leach Inc. Many fans pre-ordered the $60 game, while an estimated 8,300 North American stores opened at midnight to meet demand from customers who began lining up at storefronts hours in advance.

[Los Angeles Times]