GTA V Arriving in 2013, Says Analyst

A leading business analyst group has released a statement suggesting that Grand Theft Auto V will be released in March 2013, and not late 2012 as previously thought.

Publisher Rockstar has yet to officially announce a release date for its much-anticipated crime-spree adventure, but various retail leaks and the company's previous form in marketing time-lines have suggested a 2012 arrival.

A launch trailer for GTA V was unveiled in November last year, setting the game in a Los Angeles-type city and featuring a retired criminal as the lead character.

Rockstar released its first trailer for the series' predecessor GTA IV almost exactly a year before the game was released. This pattern was repeated with the pre-launch marketing of Red Dead Redemption.

But financial analysts at Sterne Agee say the game will drop in March next year. The company is warning investors - who are keen to reap a dividend from such a huge money-spinner - that Rockstar will seek the extra time to polish the game. It argues that a later date makes sense to avoid clashing with other major franchises like Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed, while waiting for a larger installed base of Wii U, due to launch later this year.

Rockstar has enjoyed significant success with launches in the March-May time-frame in recent years, with GTA IV, Red Dead Redemption and L.A Noire.

Sterne Agee's games industry analyst Arvind Bhatia had previously said that the game will arrive in 2012, but is now pushing the date back. He has not revised projected sales figures of 25 million units within its first year.

Source: Gamasutra