Just to be clear: there's little doubt in any fan's mind that at some point after today, and probably tomorrow too, Rockstar Games will be announcing and then releasing "Grand Theft Auto 5." It is as much a certainty as the rising and setting of each day's sun. However, today's news drops a hint that people in the Rockstar offices might now be thinking about when "GTA 5" -- or whatever the next "GTA" follow-up might be called -- will arrive. Or maybe not. Take a look at the evidence and decide for yourself.
"GTA" fansite GrandTheft5 spotted a number of new domain registrations purchased by Take-Two Interactive, though the public WHOIS information for each of the domains seems to have since been updated to hide the identity of the site owner. The WHOIS information apparently originally read:
Registrant:
Administrator, System ContactMiddleName
ATTN LIFEINVADER.COM
care of Network Solutions
PO Box 459
Drums, PA. US 18222Domain Name: LIFEINVADER.COM
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Administrator, System ContactMiddleNameTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
ATTN LIFEINVADER.COM
care of Network Solutions
PO Box 459
Drums, PA 18222
US
570-708-8780Record expires on 07-Jan-2014.
Record created on 07-Jan-2011.Domain servers in listed order:
NS93.WORLDNIC.COM 205.178.190.47
NS94.WORLDNIC.COM 206.188.198.47
[via Yahoo!]
That registration specifically applies to the LifeInvader.com domain. Other registered domain names include CashForDeadDreams.com, SixFigureTemps.com, StopPayingYourMortgage.com and HammersteinFaust.com. There's definitely a "GTA" ring to all of them, though this is hardly proof that they relate to a new game, or that an announcement for the same is even imminent.
Then again, looking at the facts, some kind of new "GTA" treatment is due. Rockstar followed up "Grand Theft Auto 4" with "Red Dead Redemption" and the soon-to-be-released "L.A. Noire." The latter game in particular looks to be a big departure from the flavor of past Rockstar releases, with a de-emphasized open world and a focus on investigation and interpersonal communications over gunplay and high-speed chases.
A return to the company's basic building block franchise is the obvious follow-up for something like "Noire." Something to remind fans that Rockstar hasn't forgotten our collective love for driving a bus through midtown traffic -- in the wrong direction -- and then ditching it in an intersection to gun down a nearby biker gang.