The latest Call of Duty video game has set a first-day sales record, generating $400 million (€293 million) in sales in its first 24 hours in stores.

That breaks the record its predecessor set this time last year.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the third game in the military shooter series to set such a record. Last year, Call of Duty: Black Ops raked in $360 million in its first 24 hours on sale.

Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 2, sold 4.7 million copies in its first 24 hours to reap $310 million.

The latest instalment of the game from Activision Blizzard Inc went on sale at midnight on Tuesday in North America and the UK.

Activision said today the game sold 6.4 million units in its first 24 hours.

A rival shooter game from Electronic Arts Inc, Battlefield 3, meanwhile, sold five million units in its first week in stores last month, making it the fastest-selling game in EA's history.

AP