ROCKSTAR have confirmed that Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition will launch on November 11 via the Rockstar Games Launcher (PC), PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store on Xbox, and Nintendo eShop (Nintendo Switch), with a physical release for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 to follow on December 7.
The collection comprises Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and includes new versions of all three titles and enhanced for modern consoles and PCs; the Rockstar Games Launcher (PC) version of the trilogy will cost AUD$90.95 while the pricing for the Console versions has yet to be confirmed.
Grove Street Games have used the Unreal Engine to upgrade the games both visually (with resolution upgrades and “improved visual fidelity across the world”), and from a control sense, with the Trilogy making use of the GTA V controls – unsurprising since it’s the entry most people are familiar with, having been around since 2013 and also being the most profitable work of entertainment fiction in the history of mankind (I’m not making that up, by the way).
According to the official announcement: “Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition introduces wide-ranging modern control upgrades, including improvements to targeting and lock-on aiming, updated Weapon and Radio Station Wheels, updated Mini-Maps with enhanced navigation allowing players to set waypoints to destinations, updated Achievements, Trophies, and more. The Nintendo Switch version also features Switch-specific controls including Gyro aiming, as well as touch screen camera zooming, pans, and menu selections, while the PC version includes support for NVIDIA DLSS and additional new Accomplishments via the Rockstar Games Social Club.
Additional enhancements across all three titles include a completely rebuilt lighting system; improved shadows, weather, and reflections; upgraded character and vehicle models; along with new higher resolution textures across buildings, weapons, roads, interiors, and more. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition also features a range of environmental upgrades including all new foliage, smoother surfaces, and increased draw distances to provide a new level of depth and clarity throughout the world.”
Rockstar have also confirmed GTA: San Andreas Definitive Edition (which is excellent, BTW) will be available on Xbox Game Pass from November 11, while GTA III Definitive Edition will be on PlayStation Now from December 7.
The publisher has also noted the Definitive Edition games will maintain their “distinct original aesthetic” – and as you can see from the screenshots, the games certainly look nicer, but are still very much of their era – so don’t go expecting them to suddenly look like GTA V or Red Dead Redemption II.
I haven’t had the chance to play GTA III (but loved San Andreas and enjoyed the Miami Vice thing that Vice City had going on) so am looking forward to playing the Definitive Edition Trilogy when it launches – it’ll be fascinating to see what the games are like after the overhaul and how they hold up generally given their age.
