Redmond (WA) - Halo 2 broke entertainment retail records in its first 24 hours. Microsoft Game Studios said that the video game sold through 2.4 million stores in the US and Canada raking in $125 million in sales.

The result makes Halo 2 not only the most successful video game, but exceeded entertainment records as well. In its first day on sale, the Xbox-only game" has generated more revenues than any movie, including Spider-Man 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and The Matrix Reloaded. According to Microsoft, Halo 2 also surpassed this past weekend's box office favorite, The Incredibles, which grossed $70.5 million.


"The first 24 hours of Halo 2 sales have taken our breath away," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Publishing, Xbox. "It's no longer just a huge game for us but has become a seminal milestone for the entire industry."

Before the games launch, Microsoft said that Halo 2 was pre-ordered more than 1.5 million times in the United States alone. More than 6.500 stores opened its doors at 12.01 AM on November 9th with game boxes apparently flying off the shelves.