The official release window is projected for March 2013, but in a note sent to investors, Robert W. Baird analyst Colin Sebastian warns that it seems increasingly unlikely that GTA5 will arrive on time.
"By no means am I convinced that it will miss March, but there are a couple of factors to consider. One, we haven’t heard anything definitive from the company on release timing," he said. "Second, retailers typically would want 4-6 months lead time to prepare for a launch as large as GTA, and from [what] I understand they haven’t heard anything. Third, Rockstar rightly prioritizes game quality over release date, and this dynamic could shift timing."According to Sebastian, GTA V stands to be a hit, he believes the game will ship 12-14 million units during its first three months.