Red Dead Redemption is shaping up to be the biggest UK video game launch of 2010 so far - and by some distance.
That's according to leading UK entertainment retailer HMV - who told CVG that since going on sale yesterday, the title's launch sales are outdoing those of Heavy Rain, Final Fantasy XIII and other huge 2010 releases.
The firm said it expected Rockstar to sell an astonishing 300,000 copies of Red Dead in its opening two days on the UK market.
"Red Dead Redemption is comfortably shaping up to be the biggest and fastest-selling title of 2010 so far - ahead of the likes of Final Fantasy, Battlefield and even Heavy Rain, which we had as a major exclusive," HMV games commercial manager Jonathan Hayes told CVG.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the title does the best part of 300,000 unit sales on its opening Friday and Saturday.
"We've done really well with the release online at HMV.com with pre-orders, prompted in part by our free 'The War Horse' exclusive download offer. Customers have also responded strongly in-store - drawn equally to our offer of 800 free XBox Live points on the XBox and a free copy of '3:10 to Yuma' starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale on PS3 purchases. It's been a welcome shot in the arm to the market."
To put that into some context, it took Heavy Rain a couple of months to sell a million worldwide.
HMV is selling both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game for under £40 online and in-store.
CVG revealed yesterday that the PS3 version of the game is in short supply at UK retail.
Check out our Red Dead Redemption review here to see just how good the game really is.
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