GTA 5 Release Date Rumors: March 24, Says Report (Trailer)

The hottest game of 2013 will most likely end up being another offering from Rockstar Games - Grand Theft Auto 5. While no exact release date has been given, a new report suggests that the game will ship out near the end of March.

According to iDigitalTimes, which received a tip from a commenter on their website, Grand Theft Auto 5 will begin shipping out March 24, at least for the Xbox 360.

"I preordered it from Microsoft...says shipping/release date is March 24. This doesn't mean it's correct lol...but usually if its not known they list it as TBA," wrote Nick Ritenour.

For those without a calendar, March 24 is a Sunday. New video games, especially high profile ones like Grand Theft Auto 5, usually come out on a Tuesday, so this date doesn't look like it'll be the actual one. There is a chance, however, that Microsoft will ship out copies on March 24 in hopes that they land on doorsteps on March 26, which is a Tuesday. As usual with release date rumors, there's no real way to confirm this, so we'll have to wait and see.

iDigitalTimes did some extra sleuthing and dug up another comment in which an Australian claims that April 24 is the release date in Australia. The commenter states that retailer JB-HI-FI informed him of the release date without hesitation, and that the date apparently came straight from the horse's mouth - Rockstar.

All we know for certain is that Grand Theft Auto 5 will release sometime in spring 2013. Some speculate that Rockstar will reveal the exact date when the cover art is unveiled at the end of January, meaning we could have a certainty within a few days.

Grand Theft Auto 5 will feature the biggest open world Rockstar has created to date, allowing players to fly around and even scuba dive in the fictional world of Los Santos, based off real-life Los Angeles. It will also mark a first for the series: gamers will be able to switch between three main protagonists, each with their own strengths, in order to complete missions and wreak havoc as they see fit.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is currently slated for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, although many are clamoring for a PC version, which Rockstar said it hasn't completely ruled out yet.

Watch the second official trailer of Grand Theft Auto 5 showcasing the three main characters: