All eyes may be on the release of GTA 6, but that doesn’t mean Rockstar Games has given up on Grand Theft Auto 5.
Rockstar Games has just announced plans to release a major free update for the PC version of GTA 5.
Launching on March 4, the PC update will introduce a ton of enhancements to GTA 5, giving the game the kind of next-gen makeover previously only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
This includes new vehicles and performance upgrades available at Hao’s Special Works, as well as increased animal encounters, new graphics options and speedier loading times.
Hao’s Special Works includes Premium Test Rides for car enthusiasts, as well as exclusive races, and Time Trials. It’s a welcome addition, especially if you’ve exhausted all of the previous races and trials.
Likewise, animal encounters come with their own gameplay implications, with players able to participate in daily Wildlife Photography Challenges for new rewards.
While the PC update will be available for free, it won’t be as straightforward as a simple download. You’ll also need to perform a one-time Character Migration flow to bring over your Story Mode and Online progress.
Once you’ve performed the download, you’ll be greeted with a fresh Landing Page as your starting destination, which will take you straight into the action. This includes a GTA$4,000,000 windfall for new players, which can be used to “buy property, vehicles, and other items as you start off as an Executive, Gunrunner, Nightclub Owner or Biker in the Career Builder”.
Of course, while the visual and gameplay upgrades are a welcome addition for Grand Theft Auto fans, the announcement of a free update isn’t the GTA news PC users were hoping for.
PC owners would much rather have confirmation that GTA 6 is coming to the platform in addition to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Rockstar parent company Take-Two hinted at new ports in a recent earnings report, telling investors that Rockstar has a history of moving to other platforms at a later date.
“With regard to others in our lineup, we don’t always go across all platforms simultaneously,” explains Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick. “Historically, Rockstar has started with some platforms and then historically moved to other platforms.”
GTA 6 for PC isn’t a certainty, but Zelnick’s comments certainly suggest we’ll get a port eventually.
What we do know is that Grand Theft Auto 6 takes place in the state of Leonida, which is based on Florida.
Rockstar explains: “Grand Theft Auto VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.”
The previously released trailer gives fans a look some of the map locations as seen from the skies above. This includes locations based on the Florida Keys, as well as the beach and more.
The trailer also hints at a potential game-changing new feature for Grand Theft Auto 6, which will up the scale to never-before-seen levels.