Earlier on in the month, Rockstar made it official - confirming a definitive edition of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy would be coming to the Nintendo Switch and multiple other platforms later this year.
So, just how 'definitive' will this Definitive Edition be? A user on the GTA Forums, who has apparently leaked information in the past, has shared details from a now-removed support page about the upcoming Trilogy release. Based on the description, there'll be new lighting, environmental upgrades, high-res textures, increased draw-distances, and more. Perhaps the highlight though is the mention of "GTA V-style controls", which hasn't really been mentioned until now.
"Three iconic cities, three epic stories. Play the genre-defining classics of the original Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas updated for a new generation, now with across-the-board enhancements including brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, high-resolution textures, increased draw distances, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and much more, bringing these beloved worlds to life with all new levels of detail."
In the original Kotaku report, it was noted how the remasters would be running on Unreal Engine and would likely be a mix of a "new and old" graphical style.
Will you be adding this trilogy collection to your Switch library when it arrives later on in 2021? What else are you hoping to see from these definitive editions? Leave a comment down below.
[source gtaforums.com, via rockstarintel.com, purexbox.com]
Comments 85
“Next year”? I thought it was coming out next month…
Good , the gameplay on those games feels a little outdated for me, specially the aiming.
@ArcadeEighty Hmm, just to clarify it's out later this year according to Rockstar.
I'm not sure why our game page had it as "2022" but I've updated it.
Well, that's a start.
As long as the soundtracks are the same we are golden. I need to drive in the rains of Vice City while listening to FLASH FM and EMOTION.
GTA V style controls? This might refer to just the stuff like vehicle handling (although even LCS/VCS, apparently designed to control more like San Andreas in that regard, made a tangible difference), but if the perchance imply stuff like first-person view, including cockpits... that would admittedly present a big replay temptation for me in itself.
Too bad console GTAs don't support user tracks for good measure, although my shameless imagination once fantasized about V or other port having a Switch exclusive station like, say, Wah FM - hosting a selection of Nintendo tracks but keeping the vaguely criminal theme by letting Waluigi run the thing, sarcastically comment on the protagonists of spotlighted soundtracks' games, even interview other folks like Bowser... what? Wishful thinking is a free action.😆 Of course, if Rockstar ever had any inclination to do this, PlayStation ecosystem would have probably long got it first.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but they’re being annoyingly coy about the soundtrack.
They could give us a barebones port for all I care. I just want to be naughty to some damn fine tunes.
@nhSnork didn't the original XBox ports allow a custom station?
One of my fondest memories of playing the original PC Vice City, waaaayyyyy back, was including "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" as one of the custom tunes. Yeah, sophisticated humor--me bobbing my head merrily to Dick Van Dyke while driving around to do... well, GTA things!
I've waited a long while to revisit these three games, so we'll see.
@foodmetaphors : I believe a few Wii games also allowed custom music via one’s SD card.
It’s quite annoying that such functionality was never incorporated (that I know of) into any 3DS, Wii U, or Switch games.
Nah thanks, rebought the whole Trilogy early this Year for PC for 20€.
They work just fine, i can modificate them and i am not bound to any Service.
I could have them on Steam, but there they took out Parts of the Soundtrack.
Not played V so no idea what this means lol. I presume pushing forward still moves you forward? Umm...
since I only own Nintendo systems, the only GTA I had the pleasure of playing was Chinatown Wars.
this will be my first venture into these classics so can’t wait!!!
Yeah, but what about the licensed music?
@foodmetaphors good if true, I just know rather little about what happened on original XBox in general. But FWIW Liberty City Stories (and probably VCS, too?) had a user station even on PSP, except you had to convert tracks with dedicated Rockstar software on PC. Then again, PSP, partly envisioned as a media center (like pretty much everything else until at least PS4 - Sony has always been a multimedia tech company first and foremost), had the system features for it; I don't think any of the Gen 9 consoles will let you just go and put user files on an unmodded unit.
@Azuris 20? Damn, got it late last year for 3 euros or so on Steam and I still believe that owning the original retail PC versions from 2000s is the only way to play the games as intended (with a few patches to work on modern OSs of course)
@Liam_Doolan I think the original Rockstar announcement caused confusion on the release date because it had "mobile next year" at the end which meant anyone skim reading (guilty!) jumped to that conclusion!
@Flashlink99
Yeah, i wanted the Discs and the Nice Packaging
So i paid more for this and to have the Soundtrack at its full.
I can only recomment to everybody to buy those Games for 3 Bucks as you did as long as you can.
They sold them now for two Decades for Cheap and want to resell them for more.
💯. I bought a PS2 for vice city (and playing DVDs). I didn’t have a memory card so just cruised round listening to music. Excited to play it properly, with the other two.. in one package. YES
@Azuris smart business choice! I still cherish my original copy of San Andreas from 2005 (the one with the book) but I got the trilogy on Steam at the time just to own it digitally as well. It’s a shame indeed that people cannot buy the games from Steam anymore and they have to resort to second-hand market or outright piracy…
As for the retail pc games, I own San Andreas, GTA 3 and I’m planning to get Vice City as well (only played it on a pirated copy back in the day)
I was too young for these games back in the day so the first GTA game I played was GTA IV (thanks to having two older brothers). While I’m not the biggest GTA fan, I did enjoy IV and V. I’d definitely be up to play this trilogy on PC or Switch, especially Switch if it runs well. I’m not completely sold, but I’m looking forward to gameplay!
these are still PS2 games how far will they go with "visual enhancements"
Why are people so precious about the soundtracks being exactly the same…. They are good soundtracks and I’m sure 90% will be the same but I’m expecting a churn and some different tracks in. There is zero chance of the same soundtrack - song ownership has shifted majorly with loads of artists selling their back catalogue and no way that won’t impact these three. They won’t just leave them like they did the classic versions - I’m 90% sure they’ll fill out the playlists with other era and genre fitting titles and probably expand them.
I could be wrong but I know the soundtracks won’t be identical so anyone hanging on to that is gonna be disappointed
@GrailUK aiming walking and driving is just better than the originals basically. It’s exactly what I expected tbh.
Of course we want the old soundtrack. I would also love if I could sign into Spotify and play my own playlist from there!
@Stocksy for those of us who grew up with those games it is important, as those soundtracks are part of the GTA experience in the 2000s and fit perfectly in the atmosphere of those games (this being especially true for Vice City)
If they start replacing the tracks with others, it basically feels like another game and kills a bit of the nostalgic appeal of this release.
I am hopeful they will do justice with the soundtrack, for example Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 did it (minus 2 tracks but still, it’s a whole lot better than what Rockstar did to the GTAs Vice City to 4 in the last decade)
Removed - inappropriate language; user is banned
It's difficult To go back and replay these games using the old control layout but the new alterations make this a huge release
I haven't seen any mention about the price anywhere; is it still unknown?
I'm usually exited about remasters if it's a game with a great story or timeless gameplay, but these don't tick any of those boxes.
I'm very excited. I still enjoy these 3 games more than 4 (and expansions) and 5, so I am happy. Reading comments, though, I always feel like I am the only one who ever only listened to the talk radio stations as they were hilarious. Chatterbox from 3 is my favorite in the franchise still.
@tameshiyaku Not only be rude, but why even come here and comment? They are beloved games people have wanted on platforms of their choice with the upgrades described. I see this constantly on Nintendo sites where people come in just to be proud they don't want specific games, and it confuses me every time
“new lighting and environmental upgrades” = cloud version?
“new lighting and environmental upgrades” = performance issues, chugging frames on an old game. I genuinely hope it runs well.
There’s not that much of 2021 left at this point and we still haven’t seen a single frame of this game, I’m wondering if a delay is coming...
I hope they haven’t messed with how the games play too much, in fact giving it GTAV-style aiming somewhat rings alarm bells as I find driving and shooting in IV and V unpleasantly fiddly. If they really have gone that route, it had better have gyro aiming.
@BulkSlash PLEASE! No gyro is a no-purchase for me. Especially since I've never played a GTA so I have no nostalgia/burning inclination to buy these
@roy130390 Yeah, the awful on foot controls need an update. I just hope there's no sanitizing the game along the way. Maybe even make Hot Coffee an official option to enable, as awkward as it was? IIRC one of the later games had full frontal male nudity already. It's supposed to be a nasty game.
I'm overly excited about this, but was really hoping for GTA V as played all the others back in the day...
GTA V style controls is a welcome addition, but I would buy the Trilogy with the original controls also. I grew up playing these games so even though the controls are dated by today's standards, I'm used to them. Hopefully all of the original songs make the cut, but even that's not a deal breaker if not. I'm just glad to be able to play these Classics on my Switch oled. Now give me a release date!
@YusseiWarrior3000 Don't thank them just yet, they could still Blizzard it.
Three cities.....? I think they mean 5, San Andreas alone has three cities.....
Unreal engine...
Hmm; now why wouldn't they have used the engine they have and GTAV runs on? Odd choice. Let's see how it works out.
We need some dang video of it. If they remaster it enough I'm in ; if it's still very 'PS2' then I'll probably wait for a big price drop.
Does GTA-V controls mean "and don't even think of trying to walk slowly using the analogue stick. We gimped that to be digital only.."
Because, out of all my complaints going from GTA IV to V, that has GOT to be the top of the list.
All that plus better saving with missions and I’ll pay 60$ even if that’s the final price (wish it was 40 though)
This makes it worth it for me.
Now I just hope they have optional motion controlled steering, since I would love that feature.
Literally no idea what that means as I've never played them
If this is download only, on a cart, or a combo cart/download I'm absolutely all in.
But if it's a Cloud version on Switch, **** no, never.
I may play my Switch mostly in docked but I bring it everywhere with me, and don't always have reliable Wifi. I don't want that restriction.
Never did play GTA V, but I take this to mean they improved the controls on the old games, which is excellent.
I might get this.. IF I can upgrade my ps4 version for free when I get a PS5
That's the news I wanted to hear!
The GTAV controls would be very welcome. I gave up on 3 and Vice City as when a mission involved getting out of the car, you would often just get shot and killed from no fault of your own. Those controls will vastly improve those games.
I definitely appreciate all of the quality of life improvements, plus the graphical improvements. As much as I love the original 3D Grand Theft Auto trilogy, those games are a little rough around the edges by today's standards. As long as they don't change the charm of the games by adjusting the graphics, I am fine with it. These changes might even make me enjoy the games even more.
Oh god. Why are people still insisting that it is a cloud version?
According to Rockstars website, there is NO MENTION that the Switch will get a cloud version. Also I believe Nintendo of Europe and America, I think DID NOT MENTION CLOUD VERSION in their tweet about GTA trilogy definitive edition.
So please, as of now it is not a cloud version of all 3. More likely it is going to be digital only games
Why the outdated GTA 5 controls?
That game still don't have modern FPS controls.
'GTA Trilogy's Definitive Edition Will Reportedly Feature 'GTA V-Style Controls'...
Why can't we just have GTA 5, again?!
Good! I liked 5 far and away the most because of its controls.
Hmm... One of my fondest memories was playing all 3 of these games on Xbox and using the music I had loaded on the HDD. Unless there's some way to access music downloaded to my SD card I'm guessing that will be a thing of the past unfortunately. Vice City had my fav track listing of the 3 anyway, so it's not all bad.
@anoyonmus Not exactly, there have been sightings of retail releases at Base.com and at a retailer in Poland, coming in December supposedly for the current-gen platforms and sometime in 2022 for next-gen, clearly later than the initial digital release
@Flashlink99 I said more likely and ALSO I was talking about cloud versions of this on Switch.
I don't know where you got the fact that I was talking about retail releases and all that
@Bakfug just saying that certain games would profit more of a remake rather than a remaster (or port) if they're so beloved, because these have not aged well. Yes, people feel nostalgic about it, but most probably wouldn't enjoy playing this from start to finish. But who knows, maybe they added some meaningful quality of life improvements.
@Ventilator
Because it's a third person action game, not an FPS
It is interesting that they won't show they game when they are talking about these upgrades, especially after the delisting. If they are coming out in a month and a half, they need to show gameplay ...
Then I'm glad they waited to put these on Switch, because they will be the better versions.
@BulkSlash They just announced it a few days ago. So they're presumably secure in their belief that they can bring it to market this year.
It's probably already finished.
@marck13 that would be pretty neat, and they could do that for all systems just go to a menu ingame press a "Grant access to Spotify" button sign in and done
i hope theyre a little more improved than gta5 though. I played gta5 for a little while when it was on gamepass and the controls were floaty in movement and felt weighty all around. Its odd and makes my inputs feel overall delayed.
Ooo that's exciting if true! GTA V is an absolute dream to play, the controls are so refined. I tried to go back and replay the older ones after beating V but couldn't because I couldn't deal with the clunky controls.
Huh. Grand Theft Auto games from the PS2 era have improved controls. DOOM and Witcher brought over the games as best as they could.........I wonder who could do that as well? (Looks directly at Kingdom Hearts).
All 3 games in the same physical card with original soundtrack = absolute purchase
Hopefully these specs don't just apply to the PS5/XBSX, while Switch gets barebones ports. Switch already got the short end of the stick with Sonic Colors Ultimate this year.
A lot of people will be disappointed by the high expectations expected of this remastered definitive edition.
I know it's multi format but considering it's had its controls and graphics updated I'd say this is just as important as any new Switch release this quarter. The first ever standard GTA release on the Nintendo Switch or any Nintendo console if you exclude the alternative China Town wars
Day 1 purchasr. I played and finished all 3 back in the PS2 days. Can't wait for this, Vice City is the best!
@KillerBOB Ever played Destiny 2? TPS, and still have modern controls.
Sounds good, and looking forward to news about the soundtrack/radio station lineup and a physical release! I’m bracing myself for a half-game-on-cart letdown, though, a la LA Noire. 😑
100% in on this one, only reason I had a PS2 was for these games.
@Rpg-lover
The expectations are better controls, and high definition graphics. I think we are ok.
@Ventilator
GTA 5 controls are already fine for the series, and will make the older games much more enjoyable.
...and here come to comments asking for GTA V on the Switch. Aside from the absurdly large file size, it's a perfectly viable port.
@KillerBOB well I don't think anything like a full change on graphics will occur that much. If it gets anyway like the xenoblade remastered for the switch, then it may worth it. I wished they could've ported iv or v to the switch that would've been much better.
Regardless, we're going to see what they've in place for us all, they can't even show any footage of the game when announced, that shows something may not be all that right with this definitive edition, I will like to be proved wrong though..
GTA 5 controls are by no means perfect but would be a big step forward for the older games.
Really looking forward to this, if the Switch port is in any way decent that’s where I’ll buy it.
@WhiteTrashGuy Hopefully. Some companies don't seem to understand how important a game's soundtrack can be for many of us. I still can't believe they messed up the Banana Blitz HD music.
@Kevember
Absolutely. It is tied to the experience. Back in the 8bit days Nintendo, Capcom, and Konami were able create a wonderful sense of place and action with their soundtracks.
I’ll be honest: I’d buy these even if they were straight ports. So… having improvements paved over the top is just a bonus. Rockstar, you’ve got yourself a sale from me!
I'm just hoping they wont skimp out and give us them on a physical cartridge
I’m certainly after this game. I’m really glad they’re updating them too. There comes a point, especially for early 3D games where they simply do not hold up any more and are no longer fun to play.
GTA games hit that point even when I got them back on Steam whenever they launched (want to say 2009?). I tried them controller support and oh no they played like *****. Widescreen support was laughable.
The more I hear about this the happier it makes me. As they’re no longer using their own engine (orrrr is that ***** common generic one that Oblivion also used) they would have to rebuild the whole ducking lot for UE. Nothing will feel the same. CPU entities will be better. Car handling, shooting, exploring will all feel different and I can’t ***** wait.
I never liked how GTA 4 felt to play. (See how to behave on the internet better there? ***** idiots would have phrased that as “GTA 4 was ***** to play”. Never confuse your pointless unimportant opinion for the reality the rest of us reside in)
However where is 4? The 3 series have been on nearly every console since they came out. 5 is technically on 3 different generations. 4 came out once and that was it.
I’ve a producer friend at a random Rockstar studio. He was involved as early as GTA Stories on PSP. he’s told me about their, because of course there has been, experiments in getting 5 to Switch. But he told me nothing about this updated trilogy. And from sounds of it this project is gigantic. 3 massive games all reworked from the ground up. Looks like we Finally found out what the core Rockstar dev team were up to since RDR2.
Just want it to show up on the eShop as preorder so I can put my preorder down ASAP. Need this game in my library. In my life. Finally get to play these games properly and not their aged as ***** original versions.
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