Rockstar Games is giving all "Grand Theft Auto" fans a way to pass the time with the arrival of the much-awaited "Grand Theft Auto V" and "GTA Online" next-generation upgrade on consoles.
Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X platforms are getting the upgraded versions that are optimized for the console instead of just PlayStation 4 or Xbox One ports.
Rockstar Games Rollout Free 'GTA V' Next-Gen Upgrade
Rockstar Games shared a new announcement on its website, which unveiled the current-gen versions of "GTA V" on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. These new versions bring improved technical performance, new features like high-performance vehicles and upgrades, and an easy way to migrate both campaign and "GTA Online" progress between versions.
The PC Enhanced edition adds on top of that with exclusive features, including ray-traced ambient occlusion and global illumination.
Rockstar confirmed that all save data carries over seamlessly, so players returning to the game after years away will not lose any progress they built up on last-gen hardware.
The free upgrade marks a shift from Rockstar's previous stance. When the current-gen versions launched back in 2022, players who already owned "GTA V" on PS4 or Xbox One had no upgrade path and were required to purchase the game all over again on new hardware.
That decision drew criticism at the time, especially given that most publishers offered free or low-cost upgrades for cross-gen titles during that same period.
One thing worth noting is that physical Xbox One copies of the game are not covered by the upgrade offer as only digital Xbox One versions qualify alongside all PS4 versions.
'GTA Online' Also Gets PS5, Xbox Series X Upgrade
The free upgrade also extends to "GTA Online," which runs as part of the same next-gen package. Players on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S benefit from visual enhancements and performance boosts, including faster switching between the three protagonists in Story Mode, with all save data and Online progress transferable when upgrading.
The timing of the announcement is also tied to an upcoming content drop as Rockstar shared the news alongside details for "The Kortz Center Heist," a new "GTA Online" update arriving in July. The heist takes place at a luxury gallery in Los Santos and is shaping up to be one of the bigger content additions the mode has seen in recent memory.
Getting more players onto current-gen hardware ahead of that update appears to be part of the reasoning behind the free upgrade rollout.
Next-Gen Upgrade While Waiting for 'GTA VI'
The latest current-gen upgrade for the games released around 13 years ago is a prelude to the upcoming sequel of the franchise, "GTA VI," which is currently set to release on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in November, following multiple delays.
Rockstar has not explicitly stated that the free upgrade is a warm-up act for the new game, but publications widely consider it as the filler before the next title.
Players who skipped the paid upgrade over the past four years now have a reason to come back to the franchise on current-gen platforms, which keeps the brand relevant heading into what is expected to be one of the biggest game launches in years.
That said, for anyone still sitting on a PS4 or Xbox One copy of "GTA V," the upgrade is available now through the respective platform stores.
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