 The game was extensively marketed through video trailers and press demonstrations . On 3 November , a week after the game 's announcement , the debut trailer was released . It is narrated by one of the protagonists , Michael De Santa ( Ned Luke ) , and depicts the open world accompanied by the song " <unk> ' Nut Gone Flake " by English rock band Small Faces . A press release published the same day confirmed that the game would be set in an open world recreation of Southern California — including the city of Los Santos , a fictionalised depiction of Los Angeles . Almost a year later , Game Informer magazine ran a cover story on Grand Theft Auto V for their December 2012 issue . Rockstar intended to release the game 's second promotional trailer on 2 November . However , these plans were hampered by Hurricane Sandy , which cut power supplies to Rockstar 's New York offices . The trailer was eventually released on 14 November ; it introduces the lead protagonists ' back @-@ stories and features the song " Skeletons " by American musician Stevie Wonder . 
