Secrets Of GTA V

First, there was a tweet. Posted by the Rockstar Games account, it simply said: “#GTAV rockstargames.com.” And then the internet went into speculation overdrive.

Clicking on the link took you to a countdown which, eventually, was replaced by the first trailer for GTA V. From the opening shot it immediately disproved some of the more unlikely theories — that it was set 100 years in the past (which Rockstar did with Red Dead Redemption) or in Washington DC (good for museums, not so good for base-jumping to a bank job). The truth was the best news possible — we were heading back to San Andreas.

The city

Set in the present day, what’s not clear is whether it’s just in Los Santos, Grand Theft Auto’s version of LA, or the entire tri-city area that includes San Fierro (San Francisco) and Las Venturas (Las Vegas). But it does appear that the countryside is explorable, including the 2,000ft-high Mount Chiliad.

The lead character

The rumour of multiple playable characters remains unconfirmed. The voiceover is delivered by one person, a presumably middle-aged man (possibly pictured bottom left) talking about moving to the West Coast to escape a life of crime. Although there’s little doubt that, just like Michael Corleone, he gets pulled back in. But unlike most GTA trailers, there isn’t one clear protagonist.

The vehicles

Planes feature heavily, after being absent from GTA IV. There are also jet skis (yes — we know that’s technically incorrect because it’s a brand name), golf carts, helicopters and — of course — the usual cars, bikes and vans. And there’s a more light-hearted vibe to the action than in the last game — a tempting mix of Vice City and San Andreas on an HD console.

GTA V will be released in 2012