Grand Theft Auto IV, the latest installment of the hit GTA video game franchise, racked up first-week sales of more than half a billion dollars, after selling over 6 million units globally.

Take-Two Interactive, the game’s publisher, on Wednesday announced that sales of its eagerly-awaited video game GTA IV, which is available for two consoles, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3, reached more than $500 million in its first week of availability, exceeding the sales expectations of analysts who were estimating that some five million consumers would purchase the game in the first two weeks.

The New York-based company said it has sold more than 6 million copies of the graphically violent game globally since the game was released April 29. About 3.6 million units were sold on its opening day alone, worth a retail value of $310 million for combined sales of the standard $60 game and a $90 collector's edition, the company said.

The sales figure of GTA IV that features improved graphics, new features and new gameplay, is an all-time record for any video game, movie or album, surpassing $300 million in global first-week sales last year for Microsoft's "Halo 3" game, and worldwide first-week movie box office totals of more than $400 million each last year for Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" and Sony's "Spider-Man 3."

"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," Take-Two’s chairman Strauss Zelnick was quoted by Associated Press as saying.

"We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player's experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas. Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well," Zelnick continued. "We congratulate the entire Rockstar team on creating a must-have experience that takes the legendary Grand Theft Auto franchise to a new level."

Rockstar Games, the premium content development division of game publisher Take Two Interactive Software, Inc., released Grand Theft Auto IV to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 29, 2008.

In the game, the story revolves around Niko Bellic, an immigrant-turned-gangster who travels from Eastern Europe to Liberty City, the game's fictional locale based on New York City. After taking on the role of Bellic, Xbox 360 and PS3 players can hijack cars, earn cash for criminal activities, shoot innocent bystanders and visit strip clubs.

Meanwhile, critics are not happy with the newly released game because of its extremely violent content. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a non-profit grass roots organization that aims to prevent underage drinking, is not happy with the content of the newly released "Grand Theft Auto IV" video game as the game contains a module where players have to drive drunk.

In the game, Xbox 360 and PS3 players have the choice of patronizing a bar and then attempting to drive drunk. While virtually under the influence, the screen becomes indistinct and the controls are more difficult to use. Players also have the option of hailing a taxi or walking. The intoxication effects diminish after a few minutes in the game.

Due to this content, MADD last week urged the Entertainment Software Rating Board to re-rate the game, bumping the rating up to AO for Adults Only from the current rating of M for Mature.