ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT a year waiting to play GTA 5 on a PC still has some time to wait thanks to a delay, but they can soothe themselves with the knowledge that they will get a free game and some in-game money to spend.

The free game will be one from the Rockstar canon, and will be available for PC. This is likely to be a limited range, and dare we say that many PC gamers will have already elected to buy, or not buy, the available content.

The latter kind of person will have to suck that up, accept something, and look forward to spending free fake money on in-game things when their chosen darling is released.

The free game and cash offer applies to those who pre-order GTA 5 through the Rockstar website by 1 February.

Frustrated keyboard bashers can choose from titles including Bully, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Manhunt, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Midnight Club II and Grand Theft Auto III and a maximum cash injection of $500,000.

Rockstar did not use this opportunity to apologise to punters who were gearing up to play GTA 5 in January but must now wait until March.

The company did, however, explain that those who sign up for pre-order sales will find a deposit being taken.

The deposit will be joined by the rest of the cash required by Rockstar when the game is released, along with a download code for the PC version.

Once the non-refundable deposit is taken, players will be offered the chance to select and download their free title.