Analysts: GTA V to be out by March 2013

Despite Rockstar pushing Max Payne 3 into May from March yesterday, several analysts are of the belief the company will have Grand Theft Auto V released within Take Two FY2013.

National Alliance Capital Markets analyst Mike Hickey believes there's still a possibility the game will be out within the latter half of calendar 2012 rather than 2013.

"It seems unlikely that Rockstar Games would launch both Max Payne 3 and GTA 5 in the month on May," he said in a note, as reported by Game Informer.

"Therefore, we have shifted our original expectation for GTA V to launch in May 2012, into the Company’s 2013 fiscal second-half operating period (release window: Sept. ’12 – March ‘13).

“We remain confident GTA V will ship in calendar year ’12, based on an assumption that Rockstar is using a sub 12 month marketing window for GTA V and the Company’s fiscal 2013 performance guidance, which would suggest the game’s release."

Wedbush's Michael Pachter said in his own note that the Rockstar North opus "would benefit from giving Call of Duty some breathing room," while EEDAR's Jesse Divinich added it would need to be out before Take Two's FY2014.

Rockstar has only announced the development of the game, as well as released one trailer to date, but no information on platforms or a timeline.