Grand Theft Auto V

GTA 5 Announced: Rumours Roundup

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 5 is coming... and we round up all the rumours from release date to multiplayer to the Wii U version

GTA V has been officially announced by Rockstar Games. The first reveal trailer is due to drop on 2nd November, and the game's official logo is now on the developer's official website.

We've rounded up all of the GTA V rumours so far, in an attempt to second-guess what the new game might involve.

GTA 5 Is Officially Unveiled
25 October 2011 - Rockstar reveal the logo for the game, confirming that GTA 5 is in development. The logo was accompanied with confirmation that a trailer will be released a week later on the 2 November.

It’ll Feature MotionScan Technology
21 July 2011 – The costly – but impressive – technology seen in L.A. Noire has been rumoured to be making its way to GTA 5 for some time now. Brendan McNamara of Team Bondi stated in an interview that he believes Rockstar is considering it.

However, when quizzed about whether this meant GTA 5 would likely see MotionScan being utilised, McNamara put some doubt on the feasibility of using MotionScan, “Grand Theft Auto is incredibly huge, so you’ve got all the problems of how big the cast would be and how many lines you would have to record.”

24 May 2011 – Rockstar then revealed at the release of L.A. Noire that the tech was far too expensive, and therefore unlikely to find a use for it again. In fact, two job postings at Rockstar North in May seemed to suggest more traditional facial animation methods might be considered for whatever project the team are working on.


Considering the size of GTA games and its myriad characters, MotionScan would likely prove too costly to implement into GTA 5. For now, it seems unlikely that MotionScan will be implemented into the next Grand Theft Auto.

GTA V Will Be A Wii U Launch Title
21 July 2011 – Prior to E3 2011, when the general buzz for Nintendo’s next console was at its peak, a rumour that Rockstar would be revealing its next GTA game was commonplace, some even suggesting that the game would be a launch title for Nintendo’s Wii U.

The event came and went without any mention of GTA 5, however the rumour remained. During an interview with Take Two’s Strauss Zelnick, Rockstar’s possibility of developing for the Wii U was discussed, to which he replied, “They [Rockstar] support the platform and they were pretty excited about what they have seen.” Zelnick continued, saying possible Rockstar development “will be driven by economic opportunity and creative opportunity.”

In other words, if the Wii U proves to be a financial success for Nintendo, then Rockstar will – of course – develop for the platform. As such, it seems unlikely that GTA 5 will make it to the Wii U at all, since its more likely that the game has been in development for Xbox 360 and PS3 for many years already.

GTA 5 Will Release In 2012
1 July 2011 – Rumours began to fly prior to E3 2011 this year that seemed to suggest the next GTA was ready for an announcement. Considering the previous information leaks surrounding the potential characters for GTA 5 and suggestions that it may currently be in testing stage, it is inevitable that Rockstar’s next blockbuster is likely to blow cover soon.

While E3 didn’t see a GTA reveal this is still a sentiment analysts seem to agree with, as Rockstar’s continuation of its contract with Take Two seems to confirm. In fact, Take Two’s comment on the deal adds even more weight to a 2012 release date, in which it stated Rockstar has “a very strong pipeline of titles in development.”

In response to the contract extension, analyst Jesse Divnich at EEDAR told NowGamer “Personally I’d go for November 2012. The market has been so over-saturated with FPS that there is and will be considerable demand for sandbox action-based titles for the next 3 years.”

While there’s no hard evidence to suggest that GTA 5 will be released in 2012, GTA 4 was released in 2008, making a respectable four-year gap between releases. That’s a plausible time frame for development, especially considering Rockstar already has its RAGE engine ready to go. We’re expecting 2012, then, and wouldn’t be surprised if Divnich’s suggestion of November turned out to be spot on.

Existing Characters To Return In GTA 5
29 March 2011 – It’s something of a staple in GTA games, as cameos and recurring characters make their way into each entry. GTA 5 will no doubt be the same, but we’ve already seen hints to suggest a couple of characters that may feature.

Patrick “Packie” McCrery, close cohort to GTA 4’s Nico Bellic, was last seen at the end of Ballad Of Gay Tony – widely considered the end of the GTA 4 tale – during the credits, as he steps out of a taxi and enters Francis International Airport. Will we see Packie in the next GTA 5, regardless of setting?

Second is the character James Pedeaston, a radio host who was arrested in Sri Lanka for child molestation. A leaked roll call, which is expected to be future characters for GTA 5, highlighted the potential return for this character. The description, intended to inform possible voice actors of the characters, read “a man-boy love activist who just got released from an Indonesian prison.”

As mentioned, it’s highly likely that GTA 5 will feature a handful of cameos and returning roles, so expect to see these two in the next Grand Theft Auto.

There Will Be More Than One Playable Character
GTA 4 and its DLC saw something of a shift in story-telling mechanics, which had players take the role of three different playable characters – each of who are connected together, briefly, as part of the Museum Piece mission in GTA 4. There’s a chance that this unique feature will actually be a focus of GTA 5, with multiple playable characters throughout the main campaign without the addition of DLC.

To add weight to this rumour, a leaked character list detailing a number of people involved in a Take Two game codenamed ‘Rush’, many of who seem a perfect fit for a GTA game. This list – intended as descriptions for potential voice actors – even alludes to some likely protagonists.

The De Silva brothers seem like the most likely main characters: Simon, Albert and Kevin De Silva each have a more detailed description, though Kevin’s details don’t pin him as a typical Rockstar protagonist.

Another potential main character from the casting call could be Mitch Hayes – a “wise cracking, highly successful FBI agent” with “a sense of humor”. Or, alternatively, Chad, a “misogynist Beverly Hills party boy. Made money, but not as cool as he thinks he is.”

These are just a handful of the characters detailed, with perhaps many more to come, but it seems likely that there will be more than one main character, especially considering the route Rockstar took with the Lost And The Damned/Ballad Of Gay Tony DLC.

Our guess is there will be three distinct character types: a hard-up actor looking to regain success, the traditional gang character and a dodgy lawyer.

Multiplayer Will Return In GTA 5
8 March 2011 – A job advertisement for Rockstar’s London office suggests multiplayer could make a return in GTA 5.

The job listing read “We are seeking a talented Gameplay Programmer to develop systems related to gameplay and player [in]teraction for the multiplayer part of our current next-gen title (PS3/Xbox360)”, highlighting both current generation and consoles as a necessary details.

While this could relate to Max Payne 3 – a series not known for its multiplayer – it’s more likely that Rockstar is hiring for another multiplayer component its next GTA game, just like GTA 4 and even Red Dead Redemption did previously.

We’ll have to wait and see if Max Payne 3 reveals a multiplayer mode prior to release, but for now it’s safe to assume multiplayer will return.

GTA 5 Will Be Set In Hollywood, Modern Setting
7 March 2011 – The combination of the leaked casting call and registered domain names hint at a number of things: firstly, the likelihood that GTA 5 may well be set in a Hollywood location, and perhaps a return to Vinewood and Los Santos.

For example, many of the characters in the casting call refer to a California/Hollywood setting. Many of the roles specifically refer to Beverly Hills or California, while others describe the types of characters you might expect to see in Hollywood.

Similarly, the use of domain names – especially ones such as LifeInvader.com, which is probably a Facebook parody – alludes to a modern setting; a step away from the last time GTA visited a 1990s-era Vinewood in San Andreas.

There’s pretty solid proof suggesting that GTA 5 will be set both in the modern day and in a Vinewood, Los Santos or San Andreas setting. We’d be surprised if it wasn’t.

GTA 5 Will Feature Corrupt Bankers/Solicitors
25 February 2011 – Prior to revealing the casting call of potential GTA 5 characters, Superannuation found a set of five domain names that seem to suggest possible GTA 5 websites. A month later, another set of sites were uncovered that matched the typical Grand Theft Auto humour.

Many of these seem related to banking and solicitors, such as carolinabrokers.com, californiahomesbroker.com and myrtlebeachattorney.com. This suggests there will be a larger focus on lawyers and bankers, either as a playable character or a string of related missions.

GTA 5 will feature multiple endings and moral choices
28 October 2011 - Another rumour that seems to be popping up a lot online is that GTA 5 will feature more moral decisions such as choosing to kill or ally with Playboy X in GTA IV. There is also a rumoured four endings – two good, two bad – that will be achieved by making certain choices throughout the plot.

GTA 5 will feature co-op
30 October 2011 - as with most games these days, co-op is being heavily rumoured at the moment without a single shred of evidence. If true, will this mean co-op for the whole plot, or a self-contained story arc? Throw us a bone Rockstar.

GTA 5 is coming out in 2012
2 November 2011 - This is a tricky one, as countless industry analysts have been throwing their own predicted dates into the ring, making the whole release date issue a tad blurry. While the analysts agree that 2012 is the release year, the actual month varies depending on which one you listen to.

May, July and November have all been touted, but there are possible hints in the trailer. In the scene that shows a house being sold, you can see the words ‘For Sale’ on a sign, and right below it, the house number ‘2405’, or 24 May 2012. 

24 May is the same day that the song in the trailer, 'Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake' by Small Faces was originally released in 1968. Is this just coincidence, or a clever piece of subliminal messaging by Rockstar?

GTA 5 will launch on PS3, Xbox 360
2 November 2011 - Nothing has been confirmed so far, although if GTA 5 is out next year, then it’s a safe bet that the game will appear on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Given the quality of the trailer, it appears that PC will be a launch format, rather than a postponed release six months down the line, but this remains to be seen.

GTA 5 will launch on PC
2 November 2011 - Again, the visual quality of the trailer suggests that GTA will launch on PC, or use the format as its lead platform. However, Rockstar has yet to announce any platforms for the game.

However, an anonymous 4chan forum member stated that they have seen the game running on PC, and explained that, “PC comes out on launch and is being ported by [Rockstar] Leeds. From what they’ve shown us, it is optimised much better than GTA IV.” Rockstar is yet to confirm or deny.

GTA 5 will revolve around money
2 November 2011 - The five-dollar motif on the ‘V’ in the GTA 5 logo is a dead giveaway, but rumours are currently flying around about a massive drug trade in San Andreas. Several groups will allegedly fight for the stash throughout the game, and will stop at nothing to claim it. If true, this could make for a great plot.


Tommy Vercetti isn't in GTA 5
4 November 2011 - We've seen a lot of people theorising that the man with dark hair in the GTA 5 trailer is Tommy Vercetti from Vice City. However, casting agent to Vercetti voice actor Ray Liotta debunked the actor's involvement in the game.

Our argument: If you're going to cast Vercetti, why not get Liotta, and why would the actor turn down starring in one of the biggest games of the generation? It just doesn't add up. But, could the man in the trailer be Claude?

GTA 5 will feature gang turf wars
5 November 2011 - This is a fairly new rumour, suggesting that gang turf wars are back and will include several outfits, including the 57th Ballas and the Eastside Azteca gang. Each gang allegedly has its own graffiti tags, and word is you can even create your own designs to spray around at will.

The military will return in GTA 5
5 November 2011 - The painful six-star wanted level is rumoured to return in GTA 5, and this time it will see you hounded by the military. In GTA 5 however, they are supposedly referred to as ‘National Guard’.

Beyond: Two Souls

Quantic Dream snagged actress Ellen Page for its new PS3 game, Beyond: Two Souls, and premiered a trailer during Sony's E3 press conference to show off her high-profile, performance-captured video game debut. Naturally, the video Quantic chose featured Page's character sitting absolutely still, not talking and looking like Sinead O'Connor's reaction gif to Two Girls One Cup.

The demo Quantic Dream mastermind David Cage showed the press the following day went a long way to demonstrate Page's proficiency in a video game world, though it still didn't highlight any deep dialogue or empathetic scenes.

Executive Producer Guillaume de Fondaumière played a half-hour action sequence filled with train-top rain battles, stealing motorcycles from cops and exploding helicopters -- but Beyond is much more than a single demo can contain.

"There is also emotion," Cage said. "We just showed you one walkthrough. But you could have played it in many different ways. In the entire scene, there are scenes inside the scenes that we didn't show you."

Sceneception.

Beyond: Two Souls tells the tale of Jodie Holmes, a young woman who has been haunted by an invisible, powerful presence her entire life. She calls it "Aiden" and it can interact with the physical world, follow orders and communicate with Jodie, and it's also the second playable character in Beyond.

The demo opened at night, with Jodie curled up in a ratty hoodie riding a train. Cage informed us that she was a fugitive, though he wouldn't specify why; we assume it has something to do with the monstrously destructive entity tethered to her body.

Fondaumière played the whole demo while Cage commentated as he saw fit, usually to point out just how directly Fondaumière was controlling the characters. Quantic is widely recognized for its interactive narrative titles, most notably with its previous PS3 release, Heavy Rain, and Cage was eager to mention the rich action sequences and the amount of control players will have over Jodie and Aiden's every move, even when it appeared they were being controlled via cutscene or pre-determined paths.

Fondaumière used the Sixaxis functionality to first take control of Aiden, who was distinguishable on-screen through the thread that linked him back to Jodie. Otherwise, from a first-invisible-person perspective, Aiden ran amok in the train cabin, disturbing other passengers by knocking over their water bottles and generally making the air around them frigid.

Along with the Sixaxis control, Cage said he is "in the process of thinking about" Move integration as well.
Beyond: Two Souls (E3 2012)


Aiden was bored, Cage said. When he bumped into Jodie she woke from a light sleep to grumble in frustration at him, as if he were an annoying little brother. She hadn't slept in three days, she whined, pulling the hood back over her head (which, it should be noted, had chin-length hair on it).

The train made an unexpected stop at a woodland security checkpoint, where a police troop was on the hunt for "a girl." The officers had an air of lazy indifference about them, but as they boarded the train in the search for Jodie, they soon proved to be the most tenacious group of law enforcers, ever. Just, ever.

Aiden helped Jodie escape the train through the ceiling's bathroom hatch, and the officers, having recognized and chased her through a few cabins, followed her to the roof of the train, which was traveling at full speed through a torrent of rain. Fondaumière had, by this point, taken control of Jodie, who punched, kicked and slid her way out of the clutches of every police officer she encountered on top of the speeding train in the rain.

Eventually Aiden created a force field around Jodie so she could leap safely into the surrounding forest, leaving the cops stranded, wet and probably confused on top of a moving train.

Cage wasn't kidding when he said "the story required more action."

Beyond used a familiar control scheme, with on-screen prompts to push left, tap x and shake the controller appearing in the familiar, modern, white Heavy Rain style.

Jodie herself looks -- spoilers -- like Ellen Page. Quantic Dream used performance capture technology to place Page in the game as a direct image of Jodie. Performance capture differs from the standard motion capture system in that it removes the split-take: With motion capture, the face and voice is filmed and recorded first, and the actions are filmed second to sync up with the audio. Performance capture gets all this in one go, recording full-body and -head movements as actors speak their lines in real-time.

As a result, Jodie moves in limp, life-like motions and her face, in close-up shots, has enough fleshy detail to show every single pore dotting her cheeks and nose. Her mouth looked stiff still, but again, this demo didn't exactly focus on grand speech-making. Jodie did say "fuck" quite a few times, though.


The cops in the demo continued their persistence through a damp, dark forest where Jodie fought off a pack of police dogs and scaled a slippery, sheer rock face. The animals reacted to Aiden's presence with a wary growl and the on-screen cues fit themselves to the environment in a few instances, including during Jodie's risky climb.

Aiden has more talents than simply knocking beverages from arm rests -- he can possess people who have orange auras, causing their eyes to turn milky white and placing them in the direct control of the player. Fondaumière used this ability to have one cop create a handy distraction. Then he used it to murder an entire SWAT team in horrifying and gruesome ways.

The demo ended where the public trailer did, on a burning, destroyed street with Jodie standing over a SWAT commander and warning him that next time, she'd kill everyone. Thing is, we got to see what happened right before she made that threat, and honestly, it looked like she did kill everyone.

Cage explained that there are multiple paths to follow in each scenario and that the game is not linear: "This is a sandbox," he said, just before he used Aiden to possess a sniper and shoot down three SWAT officers as they stood in position around Jodie, who was injured and crouched behind a car.

Aiden then proceeded to possess more SWAT officers, flip over cars and make a gas station burst into flames, coating a handful of people in liquid fire and sending them writhing on the ground in pain. Aiden destroyed an entire watchtower in two clicks and he and Jodie were eventually able to escape.

Buried within the scenes of mass murder is a deep coming-of-age story, Cage promised, but his focus on proving Quantic Dream can do action led him to choose this particular scenario as a demo and in the E3 announcement trailer.

Page plays Jodie through 15 years of her life, from an angsty teenager to a vibrant young woman, all with an invisible violent killer attached to her very being. Beyond addresses mourning, loss and the "other side" as Cage perceives it, created because he was dissatisfied with the explanations most religions had to offer.

"The game is really about growing, it's about evolving, about accepting who you are, even when you're different," Cage said. "It's also about death. You're going to get very torn apart when you're tied to something living between our world and the other side.

"It's about death, it's about separation, it's about mourning. All the things that you usually don't find in video games," Cage said.