GTA: Liberty City Stories

Portable gaming is about to shift up a gear with the upcoming release of Rockstar's latest GTA game, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories for the PSP.

Developed by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with series creators Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories will be available exclusively on the PSP portable entertainment system in North America and Europe following the European launch of the PSP system on September 1, 2005.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is an entirely new game in the Grand Theft Auto series and brings an unprecedented mobile dimension to this epic experience. The original storyline and all new missions take place in Liberty City, featuring the same open environments, superb voice talent and diverse music that have become trademarks of the series. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories will present PSP system gamers with an intense, visceral experience previously impossible on a handheld.

Players will take control of Toni Cipriani, who is the person that got you to destroy the Triad operations on Grand Theft Auto III on the PS2. Set in 1998, three years before GTAIII, you will be able to play out the game and find out how and why Tony became involved with the Mafia. Don Salvatore, head of the Mafia will also make a return.

"Returning to Liberty City and bringing it to life on a handheld system has been both nostalgic and extremely inspiring for us," said Sam Houser, President of Rockstar Games. "The incredible PSP system technology allows for fans of the previous Grand Theft Auto titles to revisit Liberty City and see it from an amazing new perspective with an entirely original storyline. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories will be a bold new experience that has never before been possible on a portable platform."

"We've been very ambitious with Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories," said Leslie Benzies, President of Rockstar North. "By collaborating extensively with Rockstar Leeds, we've been able to create a massive, uncompromising experience on the PSP system that we believe both long-time Grand Theft Auto fans and newcomers will be excited to get their hands on."

"We have worked very closely with Rockstar North to bring the same integrity and production value of the previous Grand Theft Auto titles to the PSP system," said Gordon Hall, President of Rockstar Leeds. "People's expectation for a Grand Theft Auto title will always be very high, and we're confident that we can deliver a revolutionary experience. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories will be the most intense and epic title created for the PSP system, undoubtedly setting the standard for this groundbreaking platform."

The release date is currently set for an American Summer 2005 which means we should be able to see Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories on PSP come end of September.