Grand Theft Auto V release date delayed to Sept. 17

Developer RockStar games just announced that it is pushing back the release of Grand Theft Auto V to Sept. 17. This is a four-month delay from the previously scheduled window of spring 2013.

This update comes from RockStar’s blog:

Dear all
Today, we have an official release date to share with you: Grand Theft Auto V will arrive in stores on September 17, 2013.

We know this is about four months later than originally planned and we know that this short delay will come as a disappointment to many of you, but, trust us, it will be worth the extra time. GTAV is a massively ambitious and complex game and it simply needs a little more polish to be of the standard we and, more importantly, you require.

To all Grand Theft Auto fans, please accept our apologies for the delay, and our promise that the entire team here is working very hard to make the game all it can be. We are doing all we can to help ensure it will meet if not exceed your expectations come September – we thank you for your support and patience.

Yours,
The GTA Team

Take Two originally scheduled to release the open-world crime game in March, but the publisher announced a delay to “spring 2013” in an October call to investors. That caused Take Two to reduce its revenue outlook for the fiscal year.

Now, GTA V won’t make the spring. It will barely make summer. The felony-named title is scheduled to hit retailers only five days before the start of autumn.

Grand Theft Auto V is set in a fictional take on Los Angeles called Los Santos. It follows three playable protagonists who are together drawn to the criminal underworld.

This is the continuation of the fictional universe that RockStar established in Grand Theft Auto IV.