September 17th marked one of the most groundbreaking releases in the video game industry to date. Grant Theft Auto V, the fifteenth game in the ongoing series by RockStar games, was released, driving many people to visit their local game stores in an attempt to grab the last copy off of the shelves. On the first day of release, the game made $800 million in profit; it amassed a billion in three, earning its spot as the fastest selling entertainment product in history, topping both Call of Duty and FIFA soccer. The Guinness Book of World Records announced this accomplishment on October 8th, just three weeks after release.

GTA V is the largest title in the series since the release of GTA IV back in 2008. It is one of the last titles to be released for the 7th generation consoles (Xbox 360 and PS3) and will probably keep its spot as the most sold game of the generation even with upcoming releases of Call of Duty, Ghosts, and Watchdogs later in 2013.

The game is played from a third person point of view following the lives of Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips. It is an open world environment placed in the depths of the fictional state, San Andreas, specifically in the city of Los Santos. These areas are modeled after Los Angeles, California, yet the realm of Los Angeles cannot compare to the crime infestation of Los Santos in-game. There are no restrictions as to what the player can do. Options range from hijacking a full sized plane filled with passengers to robbing a bank, or even cruising in any car of their choice for leisure. The game is endless with its fifty hour storyline, numerous side quests, multiple playable characters, and a massive world to freely roam in. In comparison, the city of Los Santos is larger than both the Red Dead Redemption and GTA IV’s maps combined, leaving it as one of the largest maps ever created, right next to the Elder Scrolls Series (Skyrim).

After a five year wait for a new Grand Theft Auto to release, fans were not disappointed in any way. The game was given a 10 out of 10 rating on IGN.com, the gaming industry’s leading website for information. The wait was brutal, but in the end fans will agree that it was well worth it.

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