Grand Theft Auto V was released today for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. The violent, popular video game is expected to earn over $1.5 billion in one month for Take-Two Interactive Software.

"GTA V is going to drive Take-Two from relatively break-even to very profitable," Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities video game analyst, said in an interview with Forbes. "The stock has doubled this year, primarily because of GTA anticipation."

According to Sternee Agee & Leach Inc., Grand Theft Auto V cost $250 million and five years in development and marketing.

Colin Sebastian, a Robert W. Baird & Co video game analyst, said that it is possible for Grand Theft Auto V to surpass the $900 million debut of its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto IV.

"There's a lot of anticipation for this game," Sebastian said in an interview with Bloomberg. "If the sell-through is disappointing at all, because it doesn't break records or fit some other point of measurement, then it reflects on the broader industry's fortunes."

The Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the biggest video franchises in the world and is especially popular in the United States and Europe. According to Brian Bagalow, a former developer for Grand Theft Auto and current head of Scottish Games Network, the franchise has sold approximately 135 million copies.

"In the U.S., GTA takes third place with just over 50 million Americans stating they play the franchise on PC or console, just behind Call of Duty and Mario," Peter Warman, founder of video game research firm Newzoo, said in an interview with Forbes.

Grand Theft Auto V stars new characters, Trevor, Michael and Franklin as they travel around Los Santos in southern California. Players can switch between characters as they pull off elaborate heists, each player's particular skillset. Trevor is excellent at melee combat. Michael can slow down time for "bullet tine" accuracy. Franklin has exceptional driving skills.

Grand Theft Auto V players can also spend time playing tennis, scuba diving, participating in competitive cycling and skydiving. Cars and characters in the game are customizable.

Of course no Grand Theft Auto game would be complete without some grand theft. Cars, helicopters and airplanes are all fair game in the latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

On Oct. 1, Rockstar will release Grand Theft Auto Online, a free online game available to anyone who owns Grand Theft Auto V. The multi-player game takes places after Grand Theft Auto V and features new female characters and over 500 missions.

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