Grand Theft Auto set to hit PSP near US, European launch

Rockstar Games has confirmed that its massively popular Grand Theft Auto franchise is on the way to the PlayStation Portable, with a new game set in Liberty City set to arrive on the platform near its western launch this Spring.

Both the new Grand Theft Auto title and a version of Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition are being developed for the system by Rockstar Leeds in collaboration with Rockstar North and Rockstar San Diego respectively.

"Bringing two of our most successful game franchises to this thrilling new platform not only gives us an opportunity to create a new dimension for these already extraordinary series but also allows us to begin to explore the full potential of the PSP handheld system," commented Rockstar president Sam Houser.

"Sony's extremely impressive technology has allowed Rockstar Leeds to do more on a handheld machine than we could have ever imagined," he continued. "We are very excited for gamers to experience these two genre-defining franchises in a fashion that could have never before been possible on a portable system."

While the PSP version of Grand Theft Auto will not be developed by franchise creators Rockstar North, the company is determined not to allow the quality of its flagship series slip, according to Rockstar Leeds president Gordon Hall.

"We are working very closely with Rockstar North and Rockstar San Diego to ensure that both Grand Theft Auto and Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition remain faithful to the initial vision of these respective franchises," he commented today.

One aspect of the Grand Theft Auto title for the PSP which will be watched carefully by other developers is how the game will handle the streaming of content from disc - something which the GTA titles on PS2 have relied heavily upon to create their seamless environments, but which runs the risk of crippling the battery life of a handheld device.