GTAIV rolling out April 29

One of the most anticipated games of 2008 has been given a firm release date. Rockstar Games has issued a statement saying that Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto IV will be released simultaneously for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 worldwide on April 29. A release date of April 25 had previously been rumoured for the UK, though some leaks of US retail materials pointed to a March release. It had originally been set for an October 2007 release, and its shock delay to 2008 was blamed on the "time-intensive nature" of dual-platform development.

The latest iteration of the series follows the adventures of Eastern European immigrant Nikolai Bellic as he searches Liberty City for an as-yet-unnamed person from his past. The release, which some analysts see as having the potential to outsell Halo 3, could provide a major boost for Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive, which has struggled financially over recent quarters.

For more information about Grand Theft Auto IV, see GameSpot's recent preview.