As with previous rumors on the game, it goes without saying that you should read the following information with a pinch of salt as it hasn’t been confirmed by either Rockstar or Take Two yet. Also, the following information could be spoilers overload, so look away if you don’t want to know the plot or main characters.

According to the blog, the main character will be a man known as Chico Vialpando – a 20 year old who is successful in life and has no problem ‘getting all of the ladies’. It is when he is tempted to join a local street gang and is introduced to Tony Cipriani when things start to spiral out of control. Cipriani should be ringing your alarm bells immediately, as he’s one of the main characters in Grand Theft Auto III.

Also featured in the game is Leo Johnson who is the son of Carl Johnson, otherwise known as CJ from GTA: San Andreas. Leo and Chico are cousins and Leo is apparently all that is left of CJ’s legacy, prompting him to join street gangs as well.

All this sounds very believable and according to the source has come directly from a Take Two employee. You can read the rest of the details including a more in-depth storyline through the blog link here. Wow, what are your immediate thoughts on this new character Chico? Bringing Tony and CJ’s son back into the game is a brilliant idea and we have a feeling that this is going to be one of the best plots seen in a GTA game to date.

Just to remind you, this is still a rumor until confirmed by Rockstar at E3. It obviously looks very promising though and we’re starting to get excited ourselves.

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We don’t want to raise the alarm bells just yet, but we’ve heard that Rockstar Games is nowhere to be seen on the E3 exhibitors list for this year’s event in Los Angeles. Considering after staying silent since their November trailer reveal last year, you would think that it would be at least common courtesy to give the masses another portion of GTA V info, to put a smile on faces after waiting eight months.

Scrolling down the list though, Rockstar Games are not there – but should this matter? It’s worth mentioning that Take-Two is there, so that may in fact be an indication that Rockstar could be there in some capacity. Also don’t forget that Valve wasn’t on the list when Gabe Newell decided to crash the party and announce Portal 2 on PS3, so it could still happen.

An eight month wait also reminds us of the length of time we’ve had to wait for new information regarding the Dawnguard DLC expansion for Skyrim. Thankfully Bethesda is included on the list though, so we’re guessing that we’re in for a treat with Skyrim DLC combined with an Elder Scrolls Online reveal.

Back to GTA V though, would you be shocked if Rockstar had nothing to show for the game next month? Eight months without a sniff of new information is a very long patience threshold you have to say. If they are not showing anything at E3, if remember – does that mean Rockstar will plan a separate event? Check out the E3 exhibitors list here and give us your thoughts on this.

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The latest website to throw caution to the wind regarding a release date is Dutch site InsideGamer. They have cited a freelance designer who is working with Rockstar, who has apparently told them that the game will release in December 2012 instead.

A delay has also been mentioned and it means that the information we told you about recently involving a Rockstar animator’s CV and LinkedIn profiles was either untrue or misinformed. Having said that, how can we really call this a ‘delay’ when Rockstar has yet to given any indication whatsoever on when the game will release?

At the moment they are staying very quiet on the matter, presumably because they want to save their next big reveal until E3 2012 – and rightly so. We have even seen another report claiming of a 2013 release date for the game, but until Rockstar tells us otherwise we’re still confident that the game will release this year.

Imagine an late October release date for GTA V though, it would mean having to splash out on many AAA titles with the likes of Black Ops 2, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Halo 4 and Assassin’s Creed III all on the way. That’s five games there which many of you would have no problems buying and all of them are arguably must have titles too with the exception of Medal of Honor.

Are you hoping for an 2012 release still for GTA V, or would you actually like to see a 2013 release instead so Rockstar can take their time to polish the game further?

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We last told you about some very interesting rumors towards the end of last month, which suggested that the main character of the game would be Albert de Silva, online multiplayer would have support for 32 players and that Rockstar were making GTA V a 2013 release instead of this year.

That information was apparently disclosed by an ex-Rockstar employee, but now we have heard from a Rockstar animator who is working on the game, that GTA V is actually still on course for a release in 2012 and that Rockstar are aiming for an October release. The October date was posted on the animator’s CV and LinkedIn profiles, but as you can imagine they have both been removed already.

If you’re interested in seeing a screenshot of the removed CV though, you can check it out for yourself courtesy of Joystiq here – it seems legit to us, especially given the speed in which the information was taken down.

Obviously Rockstar has not commented on this, or the animator in question. However, we have a feeling that this may well turn out to be true, for one big reason. Some of you may not be aware of this, but October 1st is actually the tenth anniversary of the release of the classic GTA: Vice City game, which released back in 2002.

A tenth anniversary is a pretty big deal for arguably the best game in the franchise’s history, and what better way to acknowledge this, by releasing GTA V, a game which looks a lot similar to Vice City, on the very same date. After initially fearing a 2013 release for the game, we would now say that E3 2012 could be the moment when Rockstar decide to unveil the game fully.

Does this make sense to you as well, or do you still think that the game will release in 2013 instead?

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A lengthy post from the user in question detailing all of the leaked information was uploaded to GameSpot. This information has now been deleted by GameSpot themselves who question the authenticity of the material, but thanks to Google cache the details have now been saved for you to have a look through.

There’s obviously some major spoilers in there as well if true. We’re hearing that the main character of the game could well end up being Albert de Silva, who you may have spotted in the first official trailer for the game a few months back. When talking about the size of the GTA V map – the tipster has revealed that the map in the next game will be ‘five times the size of GTA IV’ – pretty incredible if this turns out to be accurate.

That’s not the only incredible feature of the game though, as GTA V may have support for a 32-player online multiplayer mode on console as well. Specific details and modes haven’t been mentioned, but the GameSpot tipster did mention support for Gangs similar to that in Red Dead Redemption.

There’s tons more details through the cache link, but we’re just picking out some of the major points here – there is also the possibility of a playable demo being shown at E3 2012, but the full game may not release until sometime in May 2013.

Obviously this is very much a rumor at this point, but the information does sound promising. Treat it with a pinch of salt for now and hopefully Rockstar may have something to say about it later this week – which rumor sticks the most for you? We would be surprised at a 2013 May release after so much expectation that the game will be arriving this year, but as we have seen with The Last of Us – developers need time to perfect the game as much as possible. Regardless of the timing of the game, I think it’s fair to say that we’re in for one hell of a ride. Come on Rockstar, say something.

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Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar has said that GTA 5 will feature a neat little interaction feature with Max Payne 3, in which crews formed in Max Payne 3 will be transferable to Grand Theft Auto V, so you and your friends can remain in one close gangster unit.

Specific details of the crew feature hasn’t been revealed yet, but it certainly sounds pretty exciting. Houser has said though that these crews will be formed in the Rockstar Social Club and will be available in GTA V from day one. The purpose of it according to Rockstar is to make the game ‘more accessible to the newcomer and more rewarding for the hardcore’.

We have a feeling that there won’t be too many newcomers to Grand Theft Auto V though, especially not from our point of view anyway. After playing the excellent Grand Theft Auto and GTA: London games on the PlayStation 1, it’s amazing to see how the franchise has evolved into a stunning full 3D affair, with every game released seemingly turning to gold.

While the GTA franchise may have the midas touch, the same perhaps cannot be said for Max Payne 3. The game is due out in the middle of May and we have a feeling that certain GTA incentives will be announced by pre-ordering Max Payne in order to help out with sales. Max Payne 3 will probably be good, but we can predict it won’t be as great as GTA 5 and it’s up to Rockstar to change that perception.

What are your thoughts on the crew sharing feature for both games? Will you be buying Max Payne 3 to take advantage of this, or are you waiting for other features to be announced?

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You would have thought that Rockstar would be having complete control of the game and oversee its development 100%, but fresh rumors this week are suggesting that Rockstar may be getting some help in certain gameplay aspects from 2K Czech – the developers of the popular Mafia franchise.

It obviously hasn’t been confirmed by either 2K Czech or Rockstar yet, but sources have told VG247 that 2K Czech may have been assigned to the game to help out with producing animations which will be used in cut scenes and other moments in the game. Those of you who have played Mafia II will know that it is not a bad looking game at all, and actually a game which is definitely in the mold of a GTA-style game.

Having two heads is always better than one in our opinion, so we think this is a great move for Grand Theft Auto V if this turns out to be be correct. We’ve added a screenshot from Mafia II below to let you see the similarities between 2K Czech and Rockstar. We should also tell you that the source adds that Rockstar may be helping 2K Czech out in return by helping to work on Mafia III – so it’s a win win for everyone.

Unfortunately, Rockstar appears to be keeping fans waiting until announcing the next piece of information on the game. We’re guessing that this will come at E3 2012, but the next time we see the game – it has to be some gameplay finally. Let us know your thoughts on 2K Czech possibly contributing to GTA V – do you welcome this or not?

More About: Grand Theft Auto V, rockstar

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You think about some of the mouthwatering prospects on the way for the Vita such as Call of Duty, but how amazing would it be if a version of Grand Theft Auto V found its way onto Sony’s new handheld as well. Or let us rephrase that better – how amazing would it be if the Vita had a version of GTAV which featured cross-platform features with the PS3.

A game with the scale as GTA has endless possibilities on the Vita and thanks to the addition of 3G and GPS support, the Vita version could include some very exciting features if this ever became a reality – just look at the Vita’s Near app and other social features as an example of this. The one feature though that would send fans into delirium would be if Sony announced that GTA V was the latest game in their new PS3-Vita platform, where buying one copy of the game would get you a free copy on the Vita like MotorStorm RC and other games.

That’s a long shot in itself given the caliber of Grand Theft Auto, but if the game did come to the Vita – here’s some of the features that we would like to see:

Cloud game saving

There would be no greater feeling than being able to have a lengthy session of GTA V on the PS3, take a rest and then resume where you left off on Vita with all of your data in tact. We’re not sure if such a feature is possible on the Vita due to the hardware, but it would make everyone buy the game if Sony and Rockstar could pull it off.

Instant map

When playing GTA V, you could argue that your greatest companion is the map. When you play the game on console, it becomes standard that you end up pausing the game to check out a particular location. With this in mind, how great would it be though if you could just have your Vita at your side with an instant map all synced up with the PS3, and displaying the current mission you are on with the ability to zoom in via touch for a closer look at where you are heading to.

Rear mirror whilst driving

Another great feature for the Vita would be to have the option of using the Vita as a rear view mirror whilst driving on the PS3. Obviously you don’t want to take your eyes of the TV for too long, but a quick glance at the Vita could give you an edge if you need to shake the cops whilst navigating through tricky side roads.

Multiplayer

This goes without saying, but just like we have seen with WipEout, Sony has an amazing opportunity to make cross-platform multiplayer across PS3 and Vita one of their premium features. Imagine being able to head into a GTA V deathmatch online with PS3 players, but using your Vita instead. The beauty of GTA multiplayer generally suggests that it isn’t too taxing on hardware like an FPS would be perhaps, so we feel it is something that could definitely happen on Vita if Sony and Rockstar put the effort in.

Even if the dream isn’t realized and there doesn’t end up being a PS Vita version of Grand Theft Auto V, Sony should include some basic functionality at least so the Vita isn’t wasted. A few ideas could involve being able to use the Vita as a controller instead of the dual-shock if you prefer, or being able to use the PS Vita’s microphone to answer calls that come through whilst your playing through the campaign.

We’re praying that Sony are already locked in talks with a big sack of money waiting for Rockstar to agree to a Vita version. If you would like to see this happen as well, give us your best PS3-Vita cross platform features below.

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Let’s start with Motionscan technology, this was used in L.A. Noire and made character’s faces in cut scenes much more realistic than other methods previously used. 32 high definition cameras are used to ensure that every slight movement which goes into an expression is replicated in a game – the video embedded at the bottom of this post shows just how great this technology is.

Adding Motionscan to GTA 5 will be a huge task for RockStar’s developers due simply to how many characters there will be in the game and the many different situations a gamer will get theirself into. If GTA 5 does utilize Motionscan technology not only will actors have to record audio, but their faces will have to be tracked as well, this will add an abundance of realism to the game and does seem like a natural progression for the franchise – but could it be a task which is too big for RockStar?

The fact that RockStar already has experience with Motionscan is a huge advantage, but the sheer workload this will add to the development period is almost unfathomable due to the free-roaming nature of the game, L.A. Noire was somewhat linear in comparison so it is a massive jump – with all that said if they pull it off we’re sure other developers will look at GTA 5 with envious eyes.

We think we have spoken about Motionscan enough now, so now lets touch upon whether GTA 5 should be as realistic as possible. It is almost certain that GTA 5 will be 18-rated, therefore many argue that we should see anything which is portrayed in an 18-rated movie – obviously we don’t want to see imagery which is too graphic, but a bit of gore is needed to add grit to the game’s storyline – do you agree? As for realistic graphics we really think that past GTA games have ensured that this next installment will be as visually impressive as possible, some say that graphics don’t matter too much, but that attitude surely negates any reason for a PS4 / Xbox 720 release in the future – therefore although graphics won’t make or break the success of the game it will simply give critics less to complain about and wow gamers playing the game on beautiful 1080p displays.

Ultimately we believe that the more realistic RockStar can make GTA 5, the better. We don’t think Motionscan technology is essential, but it would be great and we also believe that some blood and gore would only add to creating a more immersive gaming experience – perhaps we are wrong, so let us know your opinions on the matter in the comments section below!

Would you prefer GTA 5 to be as realistic as technology will allow?

More About: grand theft auto 5, GTA 5, Motionscan, rockstar

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We have embedded the video at the bottom of the post, it introduces you to the game’s main character and suggests that he is a family man. We don’t get get to see him properly, therefore we can’t yet confirm whether he is a Hispanic man named Adrian (which is what the spoilers suggested yesterday). It suggests that he is trying to lead a normal life, but for some reason he is led astray.

Here is a rough idea of what is said by the game’s main character during the video:

Why did I move here? I guess it was the weather, or the…. I don’t know, that thing, that magic you see it in the movies. I wanted to retire from what I was doin from that, that line of work, be a good guy for once a family man. So I bought a big house, came here put my feet up and thought I would be a dad like all the other dads, my kids, would be like the kids on tv, we’d play ball and sit in the sun. But you know how it is….

After this dialogue you finally see some action and the dark side of the town, such as a weapon-clad trio jump out of a van in jumpsuits and gas masks about to enter a building, some prostitutes advertising themselves, a police chase, someone getting kicked out of a club, a burnt out car and a helicopter chasing a criminal.

In the video we get to see lots of different forms of transportation, such as a golf cart, jet ski, light aircraft, helicopter, motorbike and plenty of cars vans and trucks etc – at the end we see a familiar sign which confirms where the game is set (see below), check it out:

Yes that’s right the Vinewood sign makes an appearance, this Hollywood-like sign proves that the game is set in the same surroundings as GTA San Andreas, we are sure lots of you will be happy to hear this.

We have to say that the visuals shown in the trailer show a massive jump compared to previous GTA games, that said the use of bright colors etc (see below) suggests that Rockstar aren’t going for a more realistic look like what L.A. Noire offered. We must remind you that this is just a trailer and until we see gameplay we can’t really comment on graphics.

Check out the trailer for yourself below, did you spot anything significant that we missed? Are you impressed? Let us know in the comments section below the video.

More About: Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto V, rockstar

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