Grand Theft Auto 5

Few would argue that it’s been an incredible year for the PlayStation 3. With three months still left to go, the console has already played host to amazing titles like BioShock Infinite, Tomb Raider, and The Last of Us. Perhaps most impressive is that the system’s showing no signs of slowing down either, with Beyond: Two Souls, Gran Turismo 6, and a certain Grand Theft Auto V right around the corner.

The continued momentum of the current generation console is prompting some people to ponder whether the upgrade to the PlayStation 4 is even worthwhile – and according to Rockstar, its aforementioned sandbox sensation is already knocking on the doors of the next generation. Speaking with IGN, associate technical director and combat designer Phil Hooker explained that the studio endeavoured to sap every last ounce of power out of the PS3.

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“Every aspect of the game had to be better, richer in gameplay, and more fluid – and knowing that we were launching on the same platforms [as Grand Theft Auto IV] meant that we could focus on extracting the most out of those consoles and making the game as fantastic as possible,” he explained. “In the end, we surpassed our own expectations, and during development I think that everyone working on the game has been astounded by the improvements to the graphics, or new mechanics, or artificial intelligence, or mission scope along the way.”

He concluded: “Hopefully the gamers will see all of these improvements at once in one go. Compared to Grand Theft Auto IV, this definitely feels ‘next generation’ to us.”

There’s just over a week now until Grand Theft Auto V is released. Are you looking forward to the title? Have you got your copy paid off? Is the PS3’s incredible lineup forcing you to reconsider your PS4 pre-order? Let us know in the comments section below.

[source ign.com, via vg247.com]