Grand Theft Auto is making its Nintendo DS debut on March 17 and 20 in North America and Europe, respectively, Take-Two announced on Monday.

Developer Rockstar Leeds, which is developing the game in conjunction with GTA IV developer Rockstar North, intends on staying true to the series' mature themes, despite the DS' typically family friendly image.

Rockstar Games' Sam Houser called Chinatown Wars an "enormous and uncompromising Grand Theft Auto experience with DS fans."

Publisher Take-Two originally expected to have the game completed by the close of its first fiscal quarter, which ends in January. The firm said it delayed the title to "provide a better launch and marketing window" for the game.

Chinatown Wars won't the first time that the GTA franchise has landed on Nintendo handhelds--Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance both saw iterations of the series.