Sources close to Rockstar Games have released, exclusively to Hardcasual, a groundbreaking scoop – Rockstar is in the process of considering the creation of a Grand Theft Auto 5. This information has been confirmed by multiple sources, and can be taken as the first suggestion that Rockstar is considering creating another sequel to Grand Theft Auto.

Many in the industry wondered whether Rockstar would attempt to continue creating Grand Theft Auto games after the massive critical and commercial success of GTA IV. Analyst Bernard Novello of the RSP Group told Hardcasual, “Rockstar was clearly sitting on a huge hit with GTA IV – but lightning so rarely strikes twice in this industry. Why would they rehash a product that they had already created, just with the intent of cashing in? I sincerely doubt your sources that a Grand Theft Auto 5 could possibly be in development.”

Several industry observers have suggested that we may see GTA V in the late part of 2010 – but rumors of a release of another Madden title have already begun swirling for that period, and some in the industry have even suggested that the “sequel fever” gripping the industry may also strike the Rock Band and Guitar Hero franchises. If that’s the case, we can certainly look forward to a crowded holiday season in 2010! However, our sources have suggested that Rockstar has probably not begun much of the planning for GTA V up until this point, as the decision seems to have been made quite suddenly and unexpectedly by upper management.

One Rockstar visual artist, speaking under conditions of anonymity, told us, “I never expected to be working on Grand Theft Auto AGAIN. I mean, I get it – we made GTA IV. Aren’t people happy? What, am I just supposed to keep drawing alleys for the rest of my life? I thought when I joined the Rockstar team I’d be doing all sorts of different things. It turns out, we just get stuck on another Grand Theft Auto game. If I had known I’d just be making Grand Theft Auto games the rest of my life, I’d never have taken this job. But how could I have, right?”

Many within the industry are pleased with the decision, though, and have already begun practicing writing the number “10″ as large as possible. Others are looking up ejaculatory adjectives for the inevitable review, performed under 24 hours of duress tentatively scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving 2010.

Still, some wonder whether Rockstar could be doing more with their considerable talents. Said John Douglas of 1up.com, “I expected something different from Rockstar to follow up GTA IV – maybe an Xbox Live Arcade platformer, or a licensed game – there’s Toy Story 3 coming out next year, you know! But I’m sure that GTA V will be fine. Just – not what I expected. Certainly not in this industry.”