I was watching the second trailer for GTA 5 today and I noticed a recurring theme. They would introduce a playable character and give them a bit of backstory. Michael was a family man, Trevor a hillbilly thug, and Franklin was a car thief. Then they introduced Michael's son James and showed him on a mission with Franklin and Michael on a boat on a freeway. I was curious if anyone else thought this was Rockstar's way of showing that James would be a playable character as well, maybe they'll pull a Red Dead Redemption on us and sneak in another character as a surprise.

GIDDY UP YE NAG! LET'S GO! my name is James and I'm Marston's son alright!

I'm going to guess that any fourth playable character will be the dog from the first trailer.

I have a theory that the female cop from one of the posters is going to be playable and in charge of trying to capture the other 3 playable characters, but you'll only get to play as her in certain missions (meaning no free roam.) I think it would be awesome to play detective L.A. Noire style here and there to gives the game more mission variety (something I've always criticised GTA games for not having enough of.)

I wouldn't bet any money on this being the case, but it does seem like something Rockstar would at least consider doing.

I really doubt it.

Trois. Three. Anymore than that and it will be too much.

No.

By the time a few DLC packs are out? Yeah, at least four.

@jamesshell: Except for one, no characters featured in the artwork ever existed in a Rockstar game. So no.

At around 3:08 Franklin is in a gun fight. In the lower right hand corner of the screen is the character switching prompt. There are four slots and two are faded out. I think this bodes well for my 4 playable character idea.

@supercycle: It's been reported numerous times that the fourth slot is for your MP character.

Came here to say this

Damnit! Just once I want to predict something and have it come true. You couldn't have given me a little glimmer of hope? Just an ounce? Where have you heard this anyways? Where are your numerous reports?

:D

I think that detail was included in a lot of the previews that were released a couple months ago.

That raises another question... did they confirm you can free roam with your multiplayer character in singleplayer?

I bet the fourth character is actually Kaysens dog Willie. You know that would be cool, sniffing around and whatnot.

@supercycle: Also around 1:40 the 4th slot says 38 days? Multiplayer trailer in 38 days?

Better would be to have a "dynamic" 4th character place, like playing as another character just for a specific misison . I think 3 static characters is enough since were used to command 1 hero usually.

I suspect James will be the connection to Michael and Franklin meeting for the first time.

There will be V playable characters... get it, guys get it! Guys?

Return of Smellovision!

I think maybe juggling three people for the duration of the game is enough. Introducing a fourth for limited periods could be cool though.

It be pretty insane if Rockstar pulled a Metal Gear Solid 2 on us.

Personally, I am thinking the blonde girl in two of the Photos, why would she be the front cover if not.

@dubsteppanda: Women on the covers haven't been in the actual game since, like, GTA3.

Since this thread is based on speculating about what would be in GTA V, I see no reason to leave it open now that the game has been released.

Locked.