No GTA V until 2013, says analyst

Baird analyst Colin Sebastian has predicted that Rockstar fans will have to wait until next year for the return of Grand Theft Auto.

In a note discussing GameStop’s disappointing pre-announced financials, he said the retailer could expect strong sales from key releases over the next twelve months.

Titles namechecked included GTA publisher Rockstar’s next release Max Payne 3, as well as Diablo, Black Ops II, Halo 4, Assassin’s Creed, EA’s sports titles… "and in early 2013 BioShock and Grand Theft Auto V".

Rockstar parent Take-Two has never confirmed that GTA V will be a 2012 release, but most of the industry expects it to arrive by Christmas.

Last month, a Rockstar North animator’s CV suggested the game could be released in October.

Expect more information, if not a concrete release date, from next month’s E3 Expo in Los Angeles.

Until then, perhaps we should open a book on it? We’d put a tenner on a Christmas Day release.