There was a rash of news erupting today on the matter of Grand Theft Auto: IV. Here’s a quick summary of what went down:

• EB Games reported that the PS3 version of GTA IV was outselling the Xbox 360 version on pre-orders in Australia, causing some sites to report that the same was true in North America. UK retailer Asda, however, reported the same findings. HMV reports the opposite.
• Sam Houser at Rockstar told 1UP.com that there will be some differences in the game between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, mostly to do with the subtle differences in rendering between the consoles. (Which reminds us of the differences between Firefox and IE rendering.) Houser chooses the PS3 as his favorite in terms of visuals: “There’s a certain kind of softness without being blurry – some warmth to it – and then there’s a certain more clinical element to how the 360 looks.”
• Word has spread that a leaked copy of the game has popped up on the web, pointing to the complete impatience of some gamers. The leaked copy will supposedly run on Xbox 360 systems with the necessary mod chips. (Just — don’t plug that console into the Internet…)
• Some sites also leaked in-game footage. The complete intro was posted on YouTube, and quickly removed from the site.
• Sasha Grey, a porn actress, said she’d like to appear in a Grand Theft Auto game, “strapped with two MP5K’s and a black and grey skintight outfit”. Hype for GTA V, already?

Grand Theft Auto IV will be out on April 29.