In today’s market, we often see major game releases generating an upwards of $300 million and even some that surpass the half a million mark – like GTA IV – but never has a title reached the coveted $1 billion mark. Until now, that is. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is the highest grossing video game title ever, generating over $1 billion in revenue since its 2007 release, according to publishing giant Activision.

The milestone was hit late last year during the holiday season, according to company CEO Mike Griffith. Interestingly, the high sales have translated to higher-than-normal sales for supporting albums and artists according to Nielsen data. Additionally, electric guitar sales have risen 27 percent following the release of GH III, possibly indicating that the game has sparked a greater interest in music amongst consumers.

Activision: Guitar Hero III Passes $1b [Edge]

Read more: Activision Reports $2.90 Billion Year, Rock Band Generates Over $1 Billion In Sales, Activision Acquires Budcat, Activision Holds Up Rock Band Guitar Compatibility Patch, November NPD: Wii Sells Over 2 Million Units