Rockstar Games earned $1 billion dollars in three days after the release of its critically acclaimed and commercially successful Grand Theft Auto V.
Another benefactor of the open-world game's success is none other than Sony's current-gen Playstation 3 console.
According to the NPD Group, Sony's GTAV 500GB PS3 Super Slim bundle broke Microsoft's 32-month long console streak as the best-selling gaming console in the US. According to Liam Callahan, analyst for NPD, GTAV was a "much needed shot in the arm for the industry."
"[GTAV] represented over 50 percent of dollar sales in September, and had the highest first month sales than any other previous launch in the Grand Theft Auto franchise," Callahan said.
The video gaming industry climbed 27 percent to $1.079 billion in sales. Console and portable software sales jumped 52 percent to more than $754 million while accessories also grew two percent.
News come as current-gen consoles sales decline with next-gen predecessors from both Microsoft and Sony set to hit stores in November, by dropping 13 percent to $183.2 million. Microsoft's Xbox One launches globally November 22 for $499 and Sony's Playstation 4 launches November 15 for $399.
Of course Microsoft put its own spin on the news in a statement released some time after the sales data spread through the media.
"This month, Xbox 360 reached 80 million consoles sold to retailers worldwide and maintained its lead as the number one selling console in the US in 2013," said Microsoft in a statement. "Last month marked the biggest September software sales for Xbox 360, with sales reaching $401.2 million, the most for any console in the US."
Interestingly enough, Nintendo saw gains in both its portable and home hardware. The 3DS was the biggest-selling piece of hardware overall for the fifth month running while its struggling Wii U reaped the benefit of a price cut as sales rose by 200 percent.
