Rockstar Games will not showcase Grand Theft Auto 5 at E3 2013

Despite E3 being an annual Mecca-esque event for game publishers and developers when it comes to announcing and showcasing games, Rockstar Games has announced that its upcoming open-world game – Grand Theft Auto V – will not be showcased at the event.

The President of Take Two, Karl Slatoff, revealed this during the company’s financial results. He said, “This year, our labels will not have a booth on the show floor.” He continued, “Both Rockstar Games and 2K have instead decided to focus their marketing and PR efforts on a series of events throughout the spring and summer. Our team, however, will be present at the show, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.”

“Our philosophy on the show is that we like the show, we participate in a meaningful way in the show,” he later added. “It’s a great place for the industry to get together, and we’re highly supportive of it. This year it just didn’t make sense for us at the same level.”

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We won’t get any new details at E3 this year

Earlier this month, Rockstar had released a trailer that gave us glimpses into the lives of the three “protagonists” of Grand Theft Auto V – Michael, Franklin and Trevor. All three characters evoke something completely different from the others thanks to the selection of music and the style of directing.

Michael, being a retired bank robber in his early forties, lives the good life in his posh estate with a spiteful wife, bratty teenage daughter and 20-year old son. Because of the choice of music – Queen’s Radio Gaga – Michael’s part of the trailer evokes memories of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with its 80’s aesthetics and music.

Franklin, who hustles people while working for an Armenian car dealership as  repo man, reminds us of Carl Johnson – protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – thanks to the hip hop music playing in the background while characters talk about who’s a real “gangsta” and who isn’t. Much like San Andreas, it is reminiscent of the movie Boyz in da Hood.

Trevor’s side of the trailer is extremely chaotic. While not evoking any specific game from GTA’s colourful history, his part manage to be the most entertaining because of Trevor’s psychotic behaviour and him constantly beating other people up. His characteristic trait of having fits of rage is well-emphasised in the trailer.

The game will be hitting store shelves in September.