'Grand Theft Auto V' launches amid high reviews, fan anticipation

This publicity photo released by Rockstar Games shows a screen shot from the video game, 'Grand Theft Auto V.' (AP / Rockstar Games)

The highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto V, the fifth installment the mega-popular video game series, came out Tuesday to the delight of its many fans.

Eager gamers lined up overnight to be the first to snap up a copy of the game, which some stores started selling at 12:01 a.m. GTA V, which is rumoured to have cost $265 million to produce and promote, is predicted by some analysts to bring in $1 billion in sales.

Trailers for GTA V show that the game features more of the same criminal pursuits by its protagonists including car theft, robberies and shootouts, this time set in the fictional city of Los Santos.

Early reviews have praised Rockstar Games for GTA V's incredible attention to detail and realism. Review website Metacritic gave the game a near perfect score of 98 out of 100.

But the success of the violent, crime-filled series has not been without controversy. From its initial release to sex-filled secret mini-games, here's a look at a few of the controversies surrounding the GTA series:

But all the controversy surrounding the series likely won't stop fans from buying GTA V, which starts at $60 and carries a "Mature" rating.

One gamer told CTV BC that part of the game's appeal is that its vices take place in an imaginary world.

"It's incredibly fun for all the wrong reasons," he said as he waited in line Monday night. "I suppose what makes it fun is because it's imagination."

It's estimated that the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise has sold more than 125 million units.