'Grand Theft Auto V' sales top $800 million on first day

Boy, does crime ever pay.

Sales of Rockstar Games criminal epic Grand Theft Auto V have topped $800 million worldwide during its first day of launch, says publisher Take-Two Interactive. The sales figures do not include Brazil and Japan, where the game has yet to make its debut.

"We are incredibly proud of Rockstar Games' creative achievement and could not be more pleased with the success of this launch," says Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick in a statement.

For perspective, last year's launch of Activision first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops II broke a personal first-day record after raking in $500 million.

Grand Theft Auto V stars a trio of criminals -- Michael, Franklin and Trevor -- as they pull off numerous heists in Los Santos, a fictional remake of Los Angeles. The game features a non-linear structure, so players can freely explore the city and tackle missions or other quests whenever they choose.

The game has been highly praised by critics, averaging a 98 on review site Metacritic. For more details on Grand Theft Auto V, read our review of the game.

Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @bam923.