The much-anticipated trailer for Grand Theft Auto 5 was finally released today. The latest availability comes over a year since the first trailer debuted.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is the fifth installment (…obviously) of the popular car-stealing video game. The trailer shows the fictional city Los Santos in the fictional state San Andreas–obviously based on Los Angeles, CA–and introduces three protagonists which gamers will be able to swap between. Video game fansite Polygon notes that the characters are “Michael, a family man who lives in the post Vinewood hills; Franklin, a professional automotive repo man; and Trevor, who appears to be a complete and total psychopath.” The three intertwined people are drawn into Los Santos’ criminal underworld in an attempt at making some money, in the unlawful way of course.

Earlier in the month, creator Rockstar Games announced pre-order details, a broad though tentative availability time period, and released some screenshots.

GTA 5 Trailer

According to Rockstar Games’s website, GTA V will be released sometime in the Spring of 2013. It will run on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 and will cost $59.99 for both consoles.

Grand Theft Auto V will feature “Crews” similar to Max Payne 3. The new Social Club functionality connect play across multiple titles, starting with Max Payne 3 and GTA V. By playing both games multiplayer, “crews” that the player set up in one will be carried over to the other. “Crews” will let players form private crews with friends, or join public crews. Players can be a member of up to five at the same time, and completing tasks as a crew will gain XP points for the player.

I’ve never been a big gamer, but I certainly enjoyed plenty car jacking and drive-bys in my time. With that admission, I want to hear what the enthusiasts think. Have you pre-ordered GTA V yet? Are you going to? Is this going to be the best installment in the GTA franchise ever? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

GTA 5 Screenshots