Grand Theft Auto V’s world of guns, gore and gangs has topped the ranks as the highest grossing media title of all time, according to a report from Marketwatch.
Since the game’s release in 2013 ‘GTA V’ has made a ridiculous $6 billion off the back of its $265 million budget.
This figure towers over the success of famous films such as the original Star Wars, which grossed a measly $3 billion (adjusted for inflation) and James Cameron’s Avatar, which earned $2.8 billion upon release in 2009 to become the highest grossing film of all time.
“Videogames are a much better business than [movie] studios,” commented KeyBanc, analyst Even Wingren in a phone interview. “Games in general have the enviable position that their content is interactive, which allows them to make data-driven insights and adjust games and business models that benefits players and the company.”
The murder-fuelled mayhem of Los Santos is still proving popular, selling 90 million units since its release and rounding off 2017 as America’s sixth best-selling video game, according to data from The NDP Group.
The closest competitor on the gaming market is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which trails behind with a still-impressive 26.5 million units sold.
Last month, creators of the GTA franchise Rockstar Games won a legal battle filed by actress Lindsay Lohan claiming that the company had copied her likeness for a character within the game.
