Rockstar drops an unexpected GTA Trilogy update that makes the PC version almost as good as the one you can play on your phone

GamesActionGrand Theft Auto: The TrilogyRockstar drops an unexpected GTA Trilogy update that makes the PC version almost as good as the one you can play on your phoneWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Rockstar)

Image for Rockstar drops an unexpected GTA Trilogy update that makes the PC version almost as good as the one you can play on your phone

Rockstar has rolled out a surprise update for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (which I will henceforth be calling theGTA Trilogy) and it’s good news for fans, because apparently the PC edition is almost as good as the mobile version now.

I kid, but not entirely. You will recall that when the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition launched in 2021, it wasa mess—and not in the sense of “Wow, this looks old,” but, well:

(Image credit: Rockstar Games (via VinePotato, Twitter))

What the FUCK

It took the better part of a year but that mode has finally made its way to the PC version of the GTA Trilogy, and console editions too if that’s your thing. Today’s update also makes “numerous fixes and improvements” to the game, and I wish I could tell you more but that is literally the entirety of the patch notes:

Yeah, that’s it.(Image credit: Rockstar Games)

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Title Update Notes 1.112 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)Created November 12, 2024Updated November 12, 2024Print[November 12, 2024] General - PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Numerous fixes and improvements Added Classic Lighting mode which restores the look and feel of the sky in the original games

Despite that brevity, the list of changes appears substantial. Rockstar followerBeskInfinityran down a number of highlights on X, including the ability to pause during cutscenes, fixes to running animations while aiming, properly functioning shadows, and the ability to fire shotguns, assault rifles, and flame throwers while running, which wasn’t possible previously.

And of course that sweet new (for us) eye candy:

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/EjI4YRqE07November 12, 2024

It’s neither perfect nor complete—BeskInfinity called the update “a step in the right direction butstill not enough”—but the general consensus onRedditandReseteraera is that it’s a major (and long overdue) improvement to games that seemed destined to be left in a deeply flawed state.

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Also interesting is the apparent removal of Grove Street Games from the GTA Trilogy splash screens. Grove Street is the studio that ported the games in the trilogy to Unreal Engine, and took the heat for botching the job so badly. It’s presumably still listed in the game credits (I haven’t been able to confirm at this point but it would be a pretty big controversy if not) but it sure looks like there’s some distancing going on.

I’ve reached out to Rockstar to see if I can get more details on the changes in this update, and whether further patches are planned (although that may not be likely, given the current focus onGrand Theft Auto 6), and will update if I receive a reply.

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