Rumor: Rockstar Readying Full GTA Sequel for Late 2009 Release?
"We're not talking about new DLC or a collection of previously available DLC, we're talking about a full retail game," wrote Game Informer in its "Loose Talk" column, according to PSU. "We expect this title to follow the suit of previous GTAs and use a subtitle such as GTA: San Andreas, etc. Tokyo might be a possible setting for the game, but details are non-existent at this time."
While the speed of the release would not be unprecedented--Vice City was released roughly one year after Grand Theft Auto III--Rockstar is already planning to release two significant DLC expansions for Grand Theft Auto IV on the Xbox 360 this year, which could be overshadowed by a full sequel.
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I do not see this being "incredibly unlikely". Rockstar has done it before and they can do it again. Logistically it does not have to overshadow the DLC packs, the first comes out next month, and the second not long after, probably Spring/Summer, leaving the lucrative Fall season open for a full sequel. Do not forget how many copies of GTAIV were either rented (top rental of 2008) or resold to EB/Gametop. Rockstar always announced their games with a release date, just like GTAIV, it was delayed, mainly for technical reasons, not content reasons. With the technology in check and working, probably easily being updated, now comes the time to create the sequels, just like Vice City and San Andreas. I see it being announced in the Summer, after the second DLC pack and then being released in October/November.
Rockstar and 2K Games made a killing last generation with this model, I doubt they are just going to throw it out the window for this generation.