Red Dead Redemption 2, one of the most anticipated video games of the year, is off to a blockbuster start. According to a statement put out by Rockstar Games last week, the game had the second-highest grossing launch of any entertainment product in history. With over $725 million in worldwide retail sales during its first three days of availability, the massive Western-themed open world game trails only Grand Theft Auto V, also made by Rockstar Games, in terms of three-day launch sales.
The fact that Rockstar Games celebrates the game's success as the "second-highest grossing entertainment launch of all time" rather than just calling it the second-highest grossing video game launch, says a lot about where video games stand today. They are no longer a time-waster for teenagers slumped in front of their computer screens but global entertainment properties, competing with the biggest blockbusters Hollywood can muster.
As the following chart shows, both GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 have made more money in three days than the biggest movie openings of all time.
Video Games Beat Blockbuster Movies Out of the Gate
Video game launch sales
Description
This chart compares three-day launch sales of slected video games to the biggest movie openings of all time.
