Developer Rockstar has officially announced work has begun on Grand Theft Auto V. A debut trailer is expected next week.

Speculation that development was already underway has been doing the rounds for a while, with Rockstar executives talking up the project a couple of years back.

Now, though, the game is official with insiders pointing towards a 2012 release.

While little other details have emerged, rumours suggest the game will be set in real-world Los Angeles. I guess we'll find out when the trailer lands next week.

Earlier this year, the rumour mill kicked into full swing after actors posted about their GTA V involvement on CVs and Rockstar registered some dubious-looking URLs. ®

Related stories

• Video games make you NASTY AND VIOLENT (8 April 2014)

  https://www.theregister.com/2014/04/08/video_games_make_you_nasty_and_violent/

• Rockstar ramps it up with Grand Theft Auto V reveal (14 November 2012)

  https://www.theregister.com/2012/11/14/rockstar_ramps_it_up_with_gta_v_reveal/

• Rockstar unloads Vice City for smartphones (29 October 2012)

  https://www.theregister.com/2012/10/29/rockstar_unloads_vice_city_for_smartphones/

• Console content can cause crime, claims cop (6 August 2012)

  https://www.theregister.com/2012/08/06/violent_videogames_disparaged_down_under/

• Grand Theft Auto 3 fires towards fondleslabs (15 December 2011)

  https://www.theregister.com/2011/12/15/gta_3_fires_onto_fondleslabs/

• Videogames caused riots says plod (9 August 2011)

  https://www.theregister.com/2011/08/09/policeman_blames_gta_for_london_riots/

• Grand Theft Auto to launch on the Mac (10 September 2010)

  https://www.theregister.com/2010/09/10/grand_theft_auto_mac_launch/

• GTA guide hints at fifth edition (29 October 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/10/29/gta_v_manual/

• GTA maker coughs up $20m for 'hot coffee' sex (2 September 2009)

  https://www.theregister.com/2009/09/02/take_two_settles_investor_class_action_lawsuit/