Gangs have traditionally played a significant role in Grand Theft Auto games — just look at GTA 2 and, a little more recently, GTA San Andreas. Grand Theft Auto IV didn't feature gangs as heavily though, and that probably contributed to the mixed feelings that many fans continue to have about that series title. Sure, you had your Russians, Mafia and Bikers etc, but you had no reputation or real link with them. You could kill a couple in one area and then turn up the next day with no questions asked.
The good news is that gangs appear to be back, big time, in Grand Theft Auto V. According to GameStop:
Street gangs are still a problem in Los Santos, while the Lost Motorcycle Club is making moves in Blaine County. Some gangs are more interested in fighting the cops than each other — use that to your advantage when escaping the authorities.
What the innocent looking throw away line above means is that: (1) you will most likely have reputation with gangs (ie a return to the good old days of San Andreas); and (2) the AI is a lot smarter and will react more realistically if you, for example, lure a bunch of cops that are chasing you into a rival gang's turf. This new method of evading capture will prove very popular we think, and certainly lead to a lot of planning/interesting situations when on the run from the police.
Roll on 17 September. Not long now!
