Following straight on the heels of their gameplay reveal, Rockstar have stepped forward to chat with Game Informer about the steps that they've taken to improve the gameplay for this entry in their flagship series.

In one interview, associate technical director and combat designer Phil Hooker sheds a little light on what we can expect from the gunplay of the series. Since GTA IV's release in 2008, Rockstar have released Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3, both of which had fantastic gun combat in their own rights. So I'm very pleased to report that, when asked which of those games the fifth title in the GTA series will most closely resemble in terms of combat, Hooker responded that, "it's evolved through influences of all three", going on to explain that, "as we've collaborated with other studios along the way we've tried to bring in all the appropriate parts from the different projects, from the more advanced cover components and targeting of Red Dead Redemption to the more fluid transitions in and out of gun combat from Max Payne 3. The main push for gunplay on GTA V was trying to make everything as dynamic and fluid as possible, from animation to targeting to camera behaviour - we're trying to push every aspect to the next level."

Blurring the line between what makes the gameplay feel natural and immersion-breaking would certainly appear to be the focal point here, as Hooker explains a great number of changes, less important to us PC gamers, that the assisting targeting system has gone through. Perhaps more relevant is what sounds like a more tactful approach to the combat than GTA IV, thanks to a much better sounding cover system that will apparently allow players a greater deal of freedom, particularly when it comes to manoeuvrability: "In addition to smoothly running out of a car whilst firing a gun, players are able to use their car as cover, getting out and staying low without exposing themselves. They can make a stand there behind the car for a while and then at any time quickly re-enter the car from cover or from shooting and speed away with little exposure to enemy fire."

That all sounds pretty promising if I don't say so. But that's not all! In a separate interview, producer and lead mission designer Imran Sarwar talked about all those new customisation options we saw in the trailer. The emphasis in their approach would appear to be less on mere cosmetic changes this time around though. Whilst the likes of paint jobs for your car and tattoos for characters will be making a return from San Andreas, Rockstar's efforts really seem to be centred around what they can do to broaden the player's gameplay experience in terms of tactical options. What this means is that we can expect the likes of suppressors to present a stealth approach, whilst panel armor for vehicles will toughen them for the more direct approach.

Hopefully the game will live up to these promises when it's released this September on the 17th, and hopefully - I implore you, Rockstar! - a PC release will shortly follow. Stay posted for further news of GTA V in the meantime as their gameplay trailer did suggest that a multiplayer reveal would be coming fairly soon too.