Three years ago, Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition arrived with a number of problems, not all of which were addressed or fixed. In the eyes of many players, this compilation of Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas failed to live up to the original versions. But now, nearly two years after the last update, players on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC should notice some immediate improvements.
As reported by IGN, Rockstar dropped a previously unannounced update for GTA: The Trilogy that brings the title more in line with its mobile port. Some of the most noticeable changes include the game’s lighting, shadows, reflections, and draw distance. Taken together, these improvements feel more true to the visual presentation of the original games. Users on social media have already cataloged many of the major changes.
1) Classic Lighting
All three titles of the Trilogy have received a “Classic Lighting” setting that completely transforms each game’s visuals to resemble the originals more faithfully.
San Andreas’s Los Santos has that orange haze back now, The Desert got it’s purple sky look… pic.twitter.com/yrbIL3nqJv
— Synth Potato🥔 (@SynthPotato) November 12, 2024
One of the more subtle changes allows players in GTA 3 and Vice City to move and run while using shotguns and automatic weapons. Additionally, San Andreas’ different weather patterns are back in the game.
I can’t believe I’m saying this but with the new Classic Lightning and the GTA Trilogy DE Patch
I’m on Vice City and it looks absolutely gorgeous. pic.twitter.com/EjI4YRqE07
— Besk (@BeskInfinity) November 12, 2024
Completely new fire and glass breaking effects in the GTA Trilogy DE New Patch across all games and also extra bloom and flare to make it look nice. pic.twitter.com/jXXmSwYTCr
— Besk (@BeskInfinity) November 12, 2024
Grove Street Games, the developer that handled the much-maligned ports for GTA: The Trilogy, has also been removed from the opening credit screens of the console and PC versions. Presumably this means Grove Street wasn’t involved with the most recent fixes for the game.
Unfortunately, Rockstar has indicated in the patch notes that the update is only for the current generation of consoles and PC. Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One won’t be getting this update at all.
