As Rockstar gears up for the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) on September 17, 2013, the developer / publisher has released a slew of new info about the upcoming sandbox-style action adventure game. This includes new screenshots, trailers, and general details that we've compiled here in a handy dandy guide to get you caught up.
Grand Theft Auto 5 will be Rockstar's biggest open-world game to date, following three main characters, rather than a single protagonist. Each character has been given his own trailer, which you can check out below.
First is Michael, a former bank robber living a life of luxury and excess that becomes bored with the cushy lifestyle and his family drama. Michael resides in Rockford Hills, GTA 5's version of Beverly Hills, California, but quickly dives back into a life of crime after becoming miserable with his monotony.
Trevor is GTA 5's second lead character, and also happens to be the former cohort of Michael. Life hasn't been so kind to Trevor, who has taken up residence in a trailer in the desert. His life has spiraled out of control thanks to a costly drug addiction. He's an incredibly colorful character that looks to thrive on chaos while bringing his friends along for the ride.
Finally, there's Franklin, a repossession agent for a car dealership who lives in Vespucci Beach, GTA 5's Venice Beach. Franklin has no real history with crime, but finds himself berated with peer pressure and thrown into the middle of a hectic world while actually trying to avoid it.
Each of the game's dozen of screenshots shows off a different area of Los Santos, and we can identify plenty of gameplay opportunities shown throughout. From driving fast cars and motorbikes to flying planes and parachuting through mountain valleys, each element is something players everywhere have reason to get very excited about.
Scuba diving looks to bring a brand new element to the series, from basic underwater exploration to the potential for underwater missions, while lap-dances, gym workouts, tennis, golf, base-jumping, jet-skiing and more look to bring casual activities and mini-games to the massive experience.
While Rockstar is notorious for skipping the video game industry's biggest media event: E3 in June, parent company Take-Two will have a private meeting room, but there's no guarantee that new information about GTA V will launch during the event or later. Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long to learn more.