Take-Two Delays New 'Grand Theft Auto' Game Until 2008

Take-Two has announced that Grand Theft Auto IV is being delayed until spring of 2008 due to "additional development time required to complete the title."

The controversial Grand Theft Auto series was developed by Rockstar, a developer that has received criticism for the sexual "Hot Coffee" scenes included in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Take-Two said that the ultimate decision to delay the game past the crucial holiday period was its own.

"With Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar is setting a new standard for next generation video games," stated Strauss Zelnick, chairman of Take-Two, in a statement. "Certain elements of development proved to be more time-intensive than expected, especially given the commitment for a simultaneous release on two very different platforms.