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Red Dead Redemption 2 has become the "single-biggest opening weekend in the history of entertainment" releases.
According to Take-Two, Rockstar’s parent company, the open-world western has become Rockstar Games’ second-highest grossing entertainment launch of all time – second only to Grand Theft Auto V – making $725 million in worldwide retail sales in just three days.
If you’re wondering why Take-Two asserts Red Dead Redemption 2 is its "single-biggest opening" when it acknowledges GTA V grossed $1 billion in its opening three days, too, that’s because GTA V was released on a Tuesday, not a Friday. This means, technically, GTA V does not rival Red Dead Redemption 2‘s record "weekend" sales.
Either way, it’s a huge launch, and one that has genuinely moved the goalposts forward for interactive entertainment as a whole.
Sony Interactive Entertainment also confirmed that the sequel set new records on its PlayStation Network, too, claiming it has the highest ever pre-orders, highest day one sales, and the highest sales for the first three days than any other title on Sony’s PlayStation 4 platform.
Recent UK retail sales figures suggest that while Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold very well indeed, it had not quite toppled FIFA 19 as the biggest week one release of the year. But globally, and factoring in digital sales, it’s clear that the title has ridden its way to the very top of 2018.
In the run-up to launch, parts of the industry focused on Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser statement that "we were working 100-hour weeks" on the Wild West epic, prompting a wave of criticism at the perceived ‘badge of honour’ attributed to systemic overworking.
Rockstar employees have since been speaking out about their experiences, challenging claims of a culture of crunch by former employees.
"I do not feel personally that I am overworked or being mistreated," one employee stated. "That said, I do not want this to diminish any others’ stories should they arise, and I don’t wish to imply that this industry is perfect. My goal is only to share my personal experience at R*."
