Now that Grand Theft Auto 6 has been delayed to next year, it’s funny to think about how fans have been playing GTA 5 for two console generations. This fifth installment of Rockstar’s iconic series is still immensely popular, to the point that it was the first ever PS5 game revealed during that initial Sony State of Play.
Because this game has been around for so long, it’s easy to forget that GTA 5 originally came out on PS3 and Xbox 360. That’s right, it’s part of the seventh generation of gaming with GTA 4, which is shocking since only one of those games has been ported to current-gen consoles.
It’s easy to forget how this whole generation of GTA games can be played on a chunky PS3 and a red ring-free Xbox 360. Even the infamous GTA Online started in this generation, immediately becoming a big deal to gamers who wanted something fun to play online. The fact that this game is still played today and no longer gets updates on these older systems is understandable, but kind of sad.
Visually, GTA 5 has always looked good, so seeing it get an “upgrade” on 8th-generation systems wasn’t a big deal. The game played better on these consoles, but it didn’t look like a huge leap visually, which was the problem with a lot of those early remasters. Rockstar Games made up for it by still having the online mode and adding a first-person perspective to these ports, which does make gameplay different.
While having a first-person mode is cool, this is a pretty minor change overall. If fans still want to play the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, they can go through the whole campaign with these versions. Everything is still here, including those acclaimed bank heist missions, so curious fans should absolutely check this version out, if they haven’t already.
Seeing Rockstar Games constantly re-release GTA 5 was kind of a joke, but it is good for video game preservation. If fans end up hating GTA 6 for being too expensive or not having any original gameplay mechanics, players will have the previous game to play. We’re also sure that GTA Online is going to keep getting support, though we wouldn’t be surprised if the sixth game gets a mode that replaces this.
click to enlargeThat being said, seeing Rockstar support a game that’s been around since the PS3 and Xbox 360 generation is wild. Sure, it’s a new version of GTA 5 people are playing these days, but this is a game that has survived multiple console generations, and that keeps this game unique.
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