'Grand Theft Auto V' coming spring 2013

Rockstar Games has tied Grand Theft Auto V to a spring 2013 release, with pre-orders due to open from November 5, after leaked marketing material hit the net ahead of an official announcement.

Polish-website-GTA-Five-published-a-photo-of-previously-unseen-GTA-V-publicity-material-on-October-27-Photo-AFP

Rockstar Games has tied Grand Theft Auto V to a spring 2013 release, with pre-orders due to open from November 5, after leaked marketing material hit the net ahead of an official announcement.

Polish website GTA-Five had published a photo of previously unseen GTA V publicity material on October 27, and a deleted tweet from the Brighton branch of UK retailer GAME purported to disclose pre-order cover inserts in the early hours of October 30.

As implied by GTA-Five's imagery, the spring 2013 period only applies to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, not for the anticipated PC equivalent, and further denting hopes of a Wii U release.

That's not to say GTA V won't arrive on Wii U eventually -- it may do so at a later date, as will be the case with EA's 2013 release Need for Speed: Most Wanted -- GTA studio owner Take-Two has not committed one way or the other.

As for PC, GTA V could skip it altogether, as was the case with wild western Red Dead Redemption. But given the enduring popularity of Grand Theft Auto IV, that would hardly seem likely: more plausible is that GTA V on PC would arrive slightly later in the year, following the pattern set by GTA IV, L.A. Noire, and Max Payne 3.