GTA 5 pushed into September, analyst suspects next-gen release

Rockstar has confirmed a September release date for Grand Theft Auto 5, which is a few months away from the initial spring launch window. One analyst thinks the delay points to a next-gen release.

The move will provide "additional development time," according to the firm.

"Grand Theft Auto V continues to push the series forward in new ways; Rockstar North are creating our deepest, most beautiful and most immersive world yet," said Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games. "We are very excited for people to learn more about the game in the coming months."

Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz has chalked the delay up to a possible release on next-gen consoles.

"In and of itself, the delay of the game from FQ1 to FQ2 would not normally mean any significant change to expected FY14 financial results," Creutz stated in a financial note. "However there is an issue in that we expect the next generation of Xbox and/or PlayStation consoles to launch in the December quarter.

"We think the closer proximity of GTA V to the next cycle could, at the margin, impact lifetime sales of the title, though we believe that a title of GTA's stature will still be a major seller regardless. We think there also could be some impact on the legs of likely GTA V downloadable content as the next-gen installed base increases through 2014.

"However, we suspect Take-Two may have plans to eventually publish GTA V on the next set of consoles in some form to offset this."

GTA 5 will be released on PS3 and Xbox 360 September 17.