Rockstar Games Launches Free Upgrade for Grand Theft Auto V on PC

[T0@st]

The upgrade for Grand Theft Auto V on PC is now available to play from the Rockstar Games Launcher, and also via Steam or Epic Games. Introducing features previously only available on the latest generation of consoles, this upgrade also optimizes the game experience and performance on modern PCs. Players who already own GTAV on PC can upgrade to this new version for free, with the ability to migrate your Story Mode and Online progress, while anyone jumping into GTAV and GTA Online on PC for the first time will get this new version (GTAV Enhanced) along with the original version (GTAV Legacy) when purchased.

GTA ONLINE FEATURES
Get access to powerful new vehicles, stunning Chameleon Paints, high-performance modifications, and much more—all from Hao's Special Works. Newly added vehicles for PC include the Pegassi Weaponized Ignus and Coil Cyclone II supercars, the Karin S95 sports car, the Imponte Arbiter GT muscle car, and the Pfister Astron Custom SUV, which join a fleet of 20 vehicles already available in GTA Online, and all are now available for tuning from HSW. Plus, GTA+ Members can claim a Principe Deveste Eight (Super) for free through May 28 as part of a special Classics Collection to commemorate GTA+ arriving on PC. Anyone looking to take in the fauna can also now relish in the animal ecosystem, with Ambient Animals encounters and a daily Wildlife Photography Challenge available from the LS Tourist Board at Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness.




Plus, the refreshed Landing Page makes it easier than ever for veteran PC players to jump straight into the action, alongside an improved introductory flow for newer players featuring the Career Builder—which includes a GTA$4,000,000 windfall to get you started as you choose one of four initial criminal career paths. The Career Progress feature offers the opportunity to track your headway across all of GTA Online's updates while also unlocking special rewards as you advance.



Both the newly upgraded and original versions also feature access to GTA Online's wealth of updates, including today's new Oscar Guzman Flies Again update where you'll take control of the historic McKenzie Field Hangar in Grapeseed as a new branch of your arms trafficking business, complete with new missions, new aircraft, and more.

TECHNICAL ENHANCEMENTS AND SPECS
PC players on the newly upgraded version running with the recommended specifications can enjoy ray tracing features only available on PC, such as ambient occlusion and global illumination—plus ray traced shadows and reflections that first debuted on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions.



There is also support for AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS (with Frame Generation support planned for both at a future date), and DualSense controller support with adaptive triggers. Plus, faster loading times using SSD and DirectStorage on supported devices and configurations, enhanced support for higher resolutions, higher aspect ratios, and higher framerates, as well as enhanced audio with support for Dolby Atmos and improved fidelity of speech, cinematics, and music.



Access to the previous version of GTAV—found as GTAV Legacy in the launcher—will continue, so anyone whose hardware does not currently meet the minimum requirements of the new upgrade can keep playing. PC players on the Legacy version will be separate from those on the new Enhanced version, so anyone who wants to play with friends will need to make sure they are playing the same version of the game. Also, Story Mode progress that was uploaded from the Legacy version during the pre-load period is now available to download and migrate to the Enhanced version of the game.



AND MORE…
The upgraded version of GTAV on PC also includes all of our recent GTA Online player experience improvements like kernel-based anti-cheat protections and proactive voice chat moderation. Make sure to check out our Community Guidelines to help ensure GTA Online remains a fun and fair experience for everyone.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Upgrayedd]

If anyone is wondering about pc online character migration, character progress is game dependent. Meaning what you accomplish in enhanced will not affect legacy version progress, vice versa. You will still have your character in the legacy version.

 

[ThomasK]

Interestingly absent is the info that FSR 3.1 frame gen is available and the API is now DX12, albeit with a 120 FPS cap.

 

[Steevo]

Since when is Battle-Eye with a kernel mode driver required to play GTA5 in story mode?

 

[duckface]

eu test and is the same game, but with raytracing

 

[ZoneDymo]

It seems that R* was very cheap here and just ported over the console version with a few more RT effects.
Most noticeable is the Draw Distance that is significantly inferior to the (now called) Legacy version.

These were PC exclusive additions meant to stretch the game further if you PC allowed it, but now...yeah again it just looks like a ported over PS5 game:

https://imgur.com/DrMAXAJ

But considering these are the same people who thought that "definitive" editions for GTA3 Vice City and San Andreas were ok to launch...im not suprised.

Interestingly absent is the info that FSR 3.1 frame gen is available and the API is now DX12, albeit with a 120 FPS cap.

it says frame gen is planned for a later date and indeed ingame there is no option for frame gen

 

[Raiden85]

No native HDR in a 2025 remaster is insane, especially when the console version has it. This is a basic feature these days.

 

[Chaitanya]

It seems that R* was very cheap here and just ported over the console version with a few more RT effects.
Most noticeable is the Draw Distance that is significantly inferior to the (now called) Legacy version.

These were PC exclusive additions meant to stretch the game further if you PC allowed it, but now...yeah again it just looks like a ported over PS5 game:

https://imgur.com/DrMAXAJ

But considering these are the same people who thought that "definitive" editions for GTA3 Vice City and San Andreas were ok to launch...im not suprised.



it says frame gen is planned for a later date and indeed ingame there is no option for frame gen

On the otherside R* has bought out the studio that developed "definitive" edition and rebranded it as R* Australia.

 

[lexluthermiester]

RandomGamingInHD did a few video's showing what the this update can do on both the most popular card and the minimum spec card;
RTX4060

GTX1630

 

[Ruru]

RandomGamingInHD did a few video's showing what the this update can do on both the most popular card and the minimum spec card;
RTX4060

GTX1630

Waiting for Steve to test it with a RX 6400 as he promised that.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Waiting for Steve to test it with a RX 6400 as he promised that.

I think it'll perform on the same level as the Geforce 1630.

 

[chrcoluk]

Legacy combined with mods is best way to play GTAV in my opinion.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Legacy combined with mods is best way to play GTAV in my opinion.

There are more than a few people who feel that way.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I think it'll perform on the same level as the Geforce 1630.

In UK Steve's LGA 1700 system it should spank the 1630. It is considerably faster in most games when in PCIe 4 mode. He can torture it by turning on a little ray tracing too, which the 1630 lacks.

I started a new playthrough for the first time in years, and the RT reflections are value added. Right off in the car dealership is a reflections showcase. Looking forward to a IQ comparison with the OG version. I would have welcomed a hi-res texture pack too.

 

[Devastator0]

Since when is Battle-Eye with a kernel mode driver required to play GTA5 in story mode?

You don't need to have Battle-Eye enabled for Story mode only. What you do is load up Rockstar Launcher first, disable Battle-Eye in settings, then run the game like normal. Story mode works fine without it. Can confirm.

 

[_roman_]

They should first fix the 100GB download size. Or just improve the story and game in the first place. There are other games which are much smaller and better.

 

[Jermelescu]

On the otherside R* has bought out the studio that developed "definitive" edition and rebranded it as R* Australia.

The definitive edition was developed by Grove Street Games, which is another company.

 

[Denver]

It seems that R* was very cheap here and just ported over the console version with a few more RT effects.
Most noticeable is the Draw Distance that is significantly inferior to the (now called) Legacy version.

These were PC exclusive additions meant to stretch the game further if you PC allowed it, but now...yeah again it just looks like a ported over PS5 game:

https://imgur.com/DrMAXAJ

But considering these are the same people who thought that "definitive" editions for GTA3 Vice City and San Andreas were ok to launch...im not suprised.



it says frame gen is planned for a later date and indeed ingame there is no option for frame gen

That horrible blurry image must be a side effect of the TAA, they've made the game uglier. Great work!!

 

[chrcoluk]

That horrible blurry image must be a side effect of the TAA, they've made the game uglier. Great work!!

Legacy has MSAA

 

[HeadRusch1]

Installed it on my 680m MINI PC just for laughs, turned it all up to RayTracing ultra at 1080p, was running in the low 20's (7735HS chip, Ryzen 7)......but it was still running in the low 20's with full ultra ray tracing turned on. Granted, that was the "North Yankton" Intro mission so its probably single digits or teens in the actual game but, will find out later. I'm going to see if I can get it locked 30 with RT effects on later on a mini, so a console + joypad experience with motion blur, which considering this is how most of us played through the game, would be pretty cool.

Question: Can anyone confirm if the Global Illumination has finally stopped the dreaded sphere of shadows that surrounds your player in game, where the AO along every surface would suddenly appear in about a 15 foot circle, shadows along gutters and overhangs and so forth, poof, they appear when you run forwards, they dissappear if you run bac, etc. If you know, you know.

 

[Macro Device]

Tested it on my machine. Not worth it if you're not a diehard GTA V fan. For those curious: a 12400F+6700XT PC produces 45 to 85 FPS at totally maxed out 1080p; 75 to 125 FPS with FSR 3 Quality. 1% lows are in low 30s and high 60s respectively. Feels more like a half-baked fan mod rather than an actual upgrade. Maybe the first person mode improvements are cool but... idk.

 

[Techaddict]

4060Ti here - performance feels a bit off with the new update. Anyone else seeing some weird framerates? The new vehicles and ray tracing effects seem like nice additions.

 

[ThomasK]

Tested it on my machine. Not worth it if you're not a diehard GTA V fan. For those curious: a 12400F+6700XT PC produces 45 to 85 FPS at totally maxed out 1080p; 75 to 125 FPS with FSR 3 Quality. 1% lows are in low 30s and high 60s respectively. Feels more like a half-baked fan mod rather than an actual upgrade. Maybe the first person mode improvements are cool but... idk.

I'd wouldn't enable RT on any card really. Makes no difference on how the game looks, but the tanking in FPS is obviously there.

 

[Macro Device]

Makes no difference on how the game looks

I will re-check that tomorrow. In my current condition, I can barely notice 720p to 2160p difference. In the last 48 hours, I worked 36 of them.

 

[Denver]

Legacy has MSAA

I know, again; I’m just reiterating the damage TAA does to current games.