Blizzard has announced that Diablo III sold 3.5 million in the first 24 hours on sale, setting a new record for the fastest selling PC game, and saw 6.3 million players after a single week.  GameStop opened thousands of stores at midnight to mark the launch.

“We’re definitely thrilled that so many people around the world were excited to pick up their copy of Diablo III and jump in the moment it went live,” said CEO Mike Morhaime. “We also regret that our preparations were not enough to ensure everyone had a seamless experience when they did so. I want to reaffirm our commitment to make sure the millions of Diablo III players out there have a great experience with the game moving forward, and I also want to thank them for their ongoing support.”

“Regarding today’s announcement, we recognize that setting a new launch record is a big achievement,” he added. “However, we’re especially proud of the game play feedback we’ve received from players worldwide. We’re pleased that Diablo III has lived up to players’ high expectations, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more players into Sanctuary in the days ahead.”