GTA 5 PC Release Date Delayed and System Specifications Announced

Rockstar has announced Grand Theft Auto V will release on PC on March 24, not on January 27 as previously thought, and also released the system specifications for the title.

The long-awaited PC version of the game will come replete with support for up to triple monitor configurations, as well as NVidia 3D Vision. As you'd expect, it runs at 1080p and 60fps with up to 4K resolution. You can see examples of these high-end graphics in the brand new screenshots, below.

“Our apologies for the slight shift in the date but the game requires a few extra weeks of testing and polish to make it as good as can be,” an accompanying statement explains. “Moving a release date is never a decision we take lightly and is a choice we make only when we know it is in the best interests of the game and our fans.

“Thanks everyone for your understanding and we assure you these few extra weeks will be worth it when the game does arrive in March.”

What's even more interesting, however, is the brief mention that Online Heists will be arriving on the console versions of the game "in the coming weeks ahead of the PC launch.”

As for the system requirements, here they are:

Minimum specifications:

• OS: Windows 8.1 64 Bit, Windows 8 64 Bit, Windows 7 64 Bit Service Pack 1, Windows Vista 64 Bit Service Pack 2* (*NVIDIA video card recommended if running Vista OS)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs) / AMD Phenom 9850 Quad-Core Processor (4 CPUs) @ 2.5GHz
• Memory: 4GB
• Video Card: NVIDIA 9800 GT 1GB / AMD HD 4870 1GB (DX 10, 10.1, 11)
• Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 compatible
• HDD Space: 65GB
• DVD Drive

Recommended specifications:

• OS: Windows 8.1 64 Bit, Windows 8 64 Bit, Windows 7 64 Bit Service Pack 1
• Processor: Intel Core i5 3470 @ 3.2GHZ (4 CPUs) / AMD X8 FX-8350 @ 4GHZ (8 CPUs)
• Memory: 8GB
• Video Card: NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB / AMD HD7870 2GB
• Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 compatible
• HDD Space: 65GB
• DVD Drive

Rockstar recently lifted the lid on GTA Online's Heist mode, and in keeping with the good news, also pledged to support last-gen for "as long as [they] can."

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK News Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter.