Twenty years ago, we were in 200??4, one of the best years in the history of gaming. So many games have come out since then, and the industry has gone through so many changes. Did a series manage to rule all others sales-wise? Is it the series you'd expect? Can you guess the highest-selling games of the past two decades?

Fortunately, you don't have to think too hard about it. Consumer behavior advisory firm Circana, known for its in-depth research into video game data, released its findings of the top 20 best-selling games for the past decade. At the top of the list each year is more than a ?few surprises.

2004: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

2004 was the year when Rockstar cemented their flagship IP as the most successful video game series in the world. Even the massive Halo 2 came out in second. Madden NFL 2005 came in third; another series you better get used to see?ing on this list.

2005: Madden NFL 06

You'd think it was the absence of a GTA or Halo release that allowed for the Madden series to get the top spot, but we also had the release of Resident Evil 4 �which doesn't even show up on the podium. The original Star Wars: Battlefront II �the one without all the bugs at launch �came out in second. The Call Of Duty series was beginning to show? its teeth by claiming the third spot.

2006: Madden NFL 07

Though Gears Of War was by far the most popular game of '07, it was yet another first place for the Madden series. Gears Of War managed to come in second, with NCAA Football 07 claiming the third spot.

2007: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

2007 was a massive year for Guitar Hero, as the third game in the series got the top spot, and Guitar Hero 2 managed to be third. Madden NFL 08 got the second place this time around.

2008: Rock Band

2008 was another great year for Harmonix (how the tables have turned) with Rock Band, the studio's most ambitious title, claiming the top spot, and Guitar Hero: World Tour claiming the runner-up spot. Wii Fit came out in third.

2009: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

And this was when Call of Duty truly began to rule the world. Modern Warfare managed to beat out the huge Wii Fit to claim the top spot, and New Super Mario Bros. Got the third spot.

2010: Call of Duty: Black Ops

Another year, another victory lap for Call of Duty, this time with Black Ops getting the top spot. Halo: Reach's valiant efforts got it the second place, and Wii Fit Plus remained a solid seller in third place.

2011: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Let's just talk about the second and third place, shall we? Even the massively successful The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim fell to Modern Warfare 3, and the Madden series returned to third place on the podium with Madden NFL 12.

2012: Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Halo 4 is one of the most divisive entries in the series, but it came out surfing a wave of immense hype following the passing of the torch to 343 Industries. Whether or not it was deserving of the hype, Halo 4 once again managed to cling only the second place to Black Ops II's gold. Madden NFL 13 gets the bronze medal once again.

2013: Grand Theft Auto V

Finally, the only series that could ever hope to beat Call Of Duty does it. Call Of Duty doesn't fall much behind, though, as even the so-so Call Of Duty: Ghosts manages to get the second place. The Madden series goes three-for-three as Madden NFL 25: 1989 �2014 once again gets the third spot.

2014: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Advanced Warfare saw Call Of Duty go back to its natural habitat, while the original Destiny reached the second position. Grand Theft Auto V began to hint at its amazing longevity by getting the third s??pot.

2015: Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Guess who got the first place in 2015. Not even the highly anticipated Fallout 4 could stop Black Ops III from getting the top spot. Grand Theft Auto V stayed in a very comfortable third place.

2016: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Infinite Warfare took the first spot against Battlefield 1, a game many hoped could finally dethrone the COD series. It did not. Tom Clancy's The Division got the third place.

2017: Call of Duty: WWII

In a redo of 2014, the newest iteration of Call Of Duty leaves the newest iteration of Destiny, Destiny 2, in the second place. NBA 2K comes back to the scoreboard as NBA 2K18 gets the third place.

2018: Red Dead Redemption II

Rockstar did it again in 2018 when Red Dead Redemption II was finally able to beat that year's iteration of Call Of Duty, Black Ops 4. NBA 2K19 got the third place.

2019: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

Everything goes back to normal in 2019, where the Modern Warfare remake claims the top spot, and NBA 2K20 and Madden NFL 20 claim the second and third places, respectively.

2020: Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War

2020 was an even better-than-usual year for the Call Of Duty series, as it got the top spot with Cold War, and Modern Warfare stayed on the podium to take second place. NBA 2K21 got the third place.

2021: Call of Duty: Vanguard

Another year, another COD in first, another NBA (2K22) in second, and yet another COD in third, with Cold War staying for the third place.

2022: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

Though Elden Ring was easily the most talked about and beloved game of 2022, the top spot went to, you guessed it, another COD game. NBA 2K23 came back to get yet another third place.

2023: Hogwarts Legacy

And in an absolute monkey paw-type scenario, the COD series got beaten to first place in 2023 by the absolutely vile Hogwarts Legacy. Another twist was the absence of the NBA 2K series and the resurgence of Madden, with Madden NFL 24 coming in third.

The post The best selling game of every y?ear for the past 20 years appeared first on Destructoid.

Even after ten years, GTA 5 is still one of the biggest releases in modern gaming. With almost 160,000 people logged into the game on PC in the past 24 hours, it's no wonder it's one of the most played releases on Steam. But there's been on??e thing missing all this time, until now.

As noted in a recent report from Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, it looks as though Rockstar has finally added anti-cheat software to GTA 5. More than nine years after releasing (bearing in mind the console versions came out in 2013), the hit Grand Theft Auto ins??tallment comes packed with BattlEye, ?at least on the PC version.

Screenshots from X user Tez2 �who's pretty noteworthy when it comes to tracking all things related to GTA �initially showed the software listed in the patch notes over on SteamDB. Rockstar has since updated its patch notes thread, dropping in its official notice that GTA 5 now comes with a Battleye install.

Is this the end of GTA 5 silliness?

Over the years, studios and publishing houses have taken strides to protect intellectual properties, especially when it comes to guarding against online cheaters. This is basically what BattlEye is all about, but t??he report from Henderson points to a few concerns.

For one, will having anti-cheat software in the PC version of Grand Theft Auto 5 have any effect on modding? It can't be said ??at this stage what the result will be, but no doubt the communit?y will let us know post-haste.

In general, it seems fans are quite pleased with BattlEye finally making its way to the game, about a decade after it came out. But given how long it's taking for GTA 6 to arrive??, we already know that Rockstar can be a bit slow on the uptake at times.

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Back in 2021, we shared the news that GTA San Andreas would be making its way to the Meta Quest 2. That was a head scratcher from the get go, because despite being the highest-selling PS2 title of all time, San Andreas alread??y felt quite dated to be? announced as one of the biggest things in the platform's horizon.

The good news is that you now have plenty of time to ponder the choice, as IGN has just confirmed that the development of San Andreas VR is now on indefinite hold.

One of the most mind boggling parts of San Andreas VR, is that �even three years later �we never really learned much about it. The only written intel anyone ever got about it was Meta's claim that it was a project long in the making. The only visual information we got was the logo that th?e company showed during the announcement.

It's extra strange because Meta had previously seen success in bringing Resident Evil 4 to VR, and Rockstar had previously published LA Noire: The VR Case Files, an apt reimagining of the original game that was meant to be played on the HTC Vive. You'd expect that over three years later, the company would've at least provided us with one relevant update on the project, but this is all we have so far, and could be the last we end up hearing out of San Andreas VR.

This news comes after we learned that Meta's VR games endeavor is costing the company immense amounts of money, with losses of up to $16 billion dollars in 2023 alone. The reported hiatus in the development of San Andreas VR might be a direct result of? a cost-c??utting action, though Meta only states that its working on other projects.

Though this is not officially a cancellation, it would not be the first time that we'd see the cancelation of ports of highly successful Rockstar titles. Back in 2022, we learned that the company had reportedly cancelled a much in-demand PC remaster of Red Dead Redemption in response to the poor reception of the Grand Theft Auto??: The Trilogy �The Definitive Editio?n. Then again, anyone actually interested in experiencing San Andreas in VR need not feel that bad, as we just very recently learned via a slip-up that the Red Dead Redemption PC port might be in the cards once again.

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Grand Theft Auto 5 has remained extremely popular long after its 2013 release, thanks in part to its dedicated multiplayer mode Grand Theft Auto Online and, of course, a healthy modding community.

There are an awful lot of PC mods available for GTA 5 that make the game worth revisiting. While Grand Theft Auto 6's reveal trailer confirmed a release window of 2025, that's still a long time to wait, and there's every possibility it will be pushed back. As such, we've put together a list of some of the best GTA 5 mods we could find that'll hopefully keep you occupied until GTA 6 launches.

King Kong Script Mod

No matter the game, you can always count on modders to add in characters from other IPs as alternative skins, but some go the extra mile by making them fundamentally different to play. One amusing example out there is the King Kong Script Mod by JulioNIB, which lets you rampage through the city of Los Santos as?? everyone's favorite giant ape. Ev??entually, the cops will come after you, but you can just crush them underfoot or throw police helicopters at one another.

Spider-Man V

Speaking of alternate player characters, how about swinging through Los Santos as a certain spectacular, spider-themed superhero? The Spider-Man V mod does exactly what it says on the tin, but this isn't just a humorous s??????????????????????????kin. You ??get to do pretty much everything a Spider-Man can, from web swinging between buildings to crawling up and down walls.

Character Menu

GTA 5 has three playable characters in Michael, Trevor, and Franklin, but the Character Menu mod expands your selection to... everyone. As in, every NPC in the entire game. That's over 500 characters, with more than half of them customizable too with diffe??rent costumes. This isn't even limited to humans; you can take control of the animals as well.

All Multiplayer Vehicles in Single-Player

GTA 5 already features well over 300 different types of vehicles to drive, from sports cars to helicopters. However, thanks to years of updates, GTA Online has even more than that. It's a shame so many of them are locked to the online multiplayer, which is why someone put together the aptly named All Multiplayer Vehicles in Single-Player mod. You'll find over 100 spawn points for new vehicle??s, such as the various parking lots for new cars and the military base at Fort Zancudo for military vehicles.

Just Cause 2 Grappling Hook Mod

Ever wished GTA 5 was a bit more like Just Cause 2? The Just Cause 2 Grappling Hook Mod has you covered by, well, giving you the grappling hook from Just Cause 2. Aside from letting you hook onto and zip towards walls, it comes with a wingsuit/parachute, and you can even hook onto moving cars in order to hijack them. You may also want to download the Just Cause 2 Eject + Parachute Thrusters mod, since y??ou can eject from a vehicle and leave it to explode ?once it crashes into something.

Simple Zombies

While Rockstar Games did give Red Dead Redemption its own zombie mode with the Undead Nightmare expansion, the GTA series has never had an official zombie mode or spin-off. Fans have naturally come up with their own zombie themed mods, but we're going to highlight the Simple Zombies mod by sollaholla, which is a survival mod where you need to manage food and water, rescue ??other survivors, and fortify your safe zone from the undead hordes.

Single-Player Heists

GTA Online's heists are easily among its highlights, each one having its own story and set of missions for you and a team of players to complete. Successfully coordinating with your teammates to loot a casino or holiday resort is thrilling, but getting friends together to actually take part can be a hassle. For those who wish they could play through the heists on their own, modder HKH191 has you covered with their Single-Player Heists mod. At the time of writing, it is still? in beta, but it's fully playable and comes with 18 heis??ts.

The Red House

If you've already completed everything there is to do in GTA 5 and are hungry for more, you'll want to give The Red House a look. Created by Ghost_Rolly, it contains 20 wholly new missions to complete, such as assassination contracts, as well as a new heist. It's also since received The Blue House, w?hich focuses on stealth-based missions.

San Andreas Cheat System

Remember Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas? Remember how it had a bunch of fun cheat codes, like faster gameplay, infinite ammo, and flying cars? GTA 5 already has its own set of cheat codes, but this mod integrates almost all the cheats that featured in San Andreas in case you're feeling nostalgic for the 2004 classic. It comes with a folder that lets you know which cheats are compatible with the San Andreas Cheat System, but a couple of examples include the one ?that?? gives you a jetpack and another that spawns monster trucks.

GTA 5 Redux

If all you want is for GTA 5 to look the best it can be, the GTA 5 Redux mod is all about bumping up the visual fidelity, with updated textures and special effects. However, it's not just a graphics overhaul. This mod is the most detailed one on this list as it comes with a re-written weather system, new handling for every vehicle in?? the game, a reconfigured police system, and so much more. Seriously, che?ck out its website and read through the full list of features. It's a phenomenal amount of work, and has seen updates ever since its initial 2016 release.

The post 10 Best GTA 5 mods to use in 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's been over ten years since the release of GTA 5, and GTA Online and Rockstar Games have constantly pushed updates to the game, especially GTA Online. These updates also bring in s??ome content to the game, ??including vehicles, which is one of the essential aspects of the game.

There are hundreds of cars in GTA 5 and GTA Online, but only a few are the fastest. And if you are looking for cars you want to own in the game and they need to be the fastest, then here is the complete list of the top ten fastest cars in GTA 5 and GTA Online:

Top 10 Fastest Cars in GTA 5

1. Truffade Z-Type

• Top Speed: 126.25 mph
• Price: $10,000,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

2. Truffade Adder

• Top Speed: 124.75 mph
• Price: $1,000,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

3. Progen T20

• Top Speed: 122.25 mph
• Price: $2,200,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

4. Pegassi Osiris

• Top Speed: 122.00 mph 
• Price: $1,950,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

5. Pegassi Monroe

• Top Speed: 122.00 mph
• Price: $490,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

6. Pegassi Zentorno

• Top Speed: 122.00 mph
• Price: $725,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

7. Grotti Turismo R

• Top Speed: 121.75 mph 
• Price: $500,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

8. Dewbauchee Massacro (Racecar)

• Top Speed: 121.75 mph
• Price: $385,000
• Where to buy: Southern SanAndreas Super Autos

9. Overflod Entity XF

• Top Speed: 121.50 mph
• Price: $795,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsports

10. Benefactor Surano

• Top Speed: 121.00 mph
• Price: $99,000
• Where to buy: Southern SanAndreas Super Autos

Top 10 Fastest Cars in GTA Online

1. BF Weevil Custom

• Top Speed: 137.50 mph
• Price:  $980,000
• Where to buy: Benny's Original Motor Works

2. Ocelot Pariah

• Top Speed: 136.00 mph
• Price: $1,420,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport

3. Grotti Itali RSX

• Top Speed: 135.30 mph
• Price: $3,465,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport

4. Pfister 811

• Top Speed: 132.50 mph 
• Price: $1,135,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport (Currently Unavailable)

5. Grotti Itali GTO Stinger TT

• Top Speed: 132.00 mph
• Price:  $2,380,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport

6. Principe Deveste Eight

• Top Speed: 131.75 mph
• Price: $1,795,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport

7. Lampadati Corsita

• Top Speed: 131.30 mph
• Price: $1,795,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport

8. Overflod Entity MT

• Top Speed: 131.25 mph
• Price: $2,355,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport

9. Pegassi Torero XO

• Top Speed: 131.00 mph
• Price: $2,890,000
• Where to buy: Legendary Motorsport

10. Bravado Banshee 900R

• Top Speed: 131.00 mph
• Price: $565,000
• Where to buy: Benny's Original Motor Works

If you want to race with your friends on GTA Online or just cruise around the streets of Los Santos in GTA 5, the list of the fastest cars in ??the game won’t disappoint you in getting the thrill you are looking for.

The post The 10 fastest cars in GTA 5 and GTA Online appeared first on Destructoid.

Far be it from me to tell you about the current state of the video game industry. Layoffs and studio shutdowns are just one part (big though it may be) of the problem. On top of that, it's also been speculated that consumer spending could drop this year, so it may be up to the likes of GTA 6 to perk things up a bit.

That's according to an interview with Circana analyst Mat Piscatella over on Gamesindustry.biz. According to him, spe?nding on video games in the US could come down by 2% on the more optimistic side. In a worst-case scenario, it could go as low as 10% or even more.

There are likely a number of factors that could contribute to this, such as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. However, the report believes that the lack of blockbusters coming in 2024 could also be a reason. For example, we're not going to see GTA 6 or the new Nintendo Swit?ch until 2025, all being well.

Helldivers 2 and Palworld can only do so much

Piscatella ends by saying that it's "going to be a tough year," but we may see a boost providing things like interest rates come down. He also believes that the eventual (and long-awaited) release of GTA 6 could g??ive the indus??try a "renewed batch of interest."

The analyst suggests the anticipated follow-up to Grand Theft Auto 5 is vita?l to the gaming market, saying that there's "probably never been a more important thing to ever release in the industry." He then a?dds "so no pressure."

This is a rather pessimistic view of the future of video games, but some might say these are rather pessimistic times. Consumer spending in the US could come down by a fair amount, but we should hopefully see a boost. It seems a lot may be riding on the success of GTA 6.

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At the time of writing, the GTA 6 trailer is sitting pretty at 178 million views on YouTube. But that's not what most people are interested in. What we want to know is exactly when it's coming out. Well, the end may be in sight for the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto game.

According to a report from Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Rockstar is asking all staff to return ??to the office for "f??ive days a week starting in April." This is for "security and productivity reasons," according to Rockstar Head of Publishing Jenn Kolbe.

The report goes on to say GTA 6 is about to "enter the final stretch of development." This m??eans we're getting ever closer to its release, though we obviously still don't know when that's likely to happen.

Employees "not thrilled," it seems

The fact that Rockstar Games is putting out the clarion call for employees shows the company is looking to end hybrid working conditions. It's a topic that's been quite prevalent in the working world, and Rockstar asking staff to return to the office is likely due to security breaches, such as the great GTA 6 leak of 2022.

Companies asking people to shift to on-site working on a more permeant basis is becoming more common as the memories of t?he pandemic begin to fade for a lot of people. However, such a m??ove may prove unpopular with those in the gaming industry who have adjusted to working remotely.

That aside, we don't exactly k??now when the game itself will actually be launching, ev??en if it is heading towards the finish line. We're being told it's aiming for a 2025 release, so we're still looking at nearly another year yet, give or take.

No doubt it's going to be one of the biggest releases of all time. Given the legacy of Grand Theft Auto 5 �whic??h came out over 10 years ago, don't forget �there's no way the follow-up is ??going to be anything other than a money-printing license for Rockstar.

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It's a dismal time to be in video game development, as companies continue to announce layoffs. Now, Take-Two Interactive �the parent company of Rockstar �is l??ooking to enac?t a "significant cost reduction plan," but it doesn't necessarily mean redundancies.

That's according to CEO and chairman Strauss Zelnick, who told IGN recently that there are "no current plans" to lay staff off. The specifics of this plan are said to still being worked out, but Zelnick says there are other areas that need looking at, such as marketi??ng, ??third-party expenses, supply services, etc.

He also adds that the "hardest thing to ??do is to lay off colleagues," though that phrasing sort of suggests one would do it if it w??as easier. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

I'm a cynic, what can I say?

It's difficult to talk about Take-Two without mentioning GTA 6. Last year's reveal trailer has been viewed a squillion times, making it one of the most-viewed video game teasers in existence. If the parent company does eventually decide it needs to initiate layoffs, there's no telling whether this would potentially affect the next Grand Theft Auto game.

Again, this is just a complete guess from me. While there aren't any "current" plans for layoffs, that doesn't necessarily mean thing?s won't change in the future, n?ear or far.

Just recently, Take-Two was also in the headlines, facing a class-action lawsuit regarding microtransactions in NBA game?s. Hard to find two topics that get people more riled up than layoffs and microtransactions.

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Nvidia's RTX Remix is already proving popular with modders, as notable games are being given a new, shiny lease on life. As a result, we're getting to see things like GTA, Max Payne, and early Tomb Raider games get something of a spit polish, re-entering our collective?? consci?ousness.

I have DSO Gaming to thank for this. A number of recent posts from them show that ??RTX Remix is able to put a bit of a modern spin on some older releases, such as the aforementioned on??es.

In one article, we're treated to screenshots from a remixed version of Vice City �complete with Path Tracing �from user PC_Focus. We also have the above footage from turnpike, whose take on the original Max Payne gives the antihero's coat a nice sheen. Then there's skurtyyskirts, with a remixed version of the first Tomb Raider install??ment, showing Lara in a new light (literal?ly).

The gaming equivalent of "rewind!"

Given that Nvidia is due to release its RTX Remix toolkit into open beta on January 22, we can expect to see more of this sort of thing happenin??g. The above examples were done in the current version of t??he modding software, which means they might be improved upon even more at some point.

We've also seen the effect of it working in games like Half-Life 2, so it's not just suitable for ultra retro titles (although HL2 is turning 20 this year. Yikes, indeed).

Being able to inject modern techn?iques into classics, including ray tracing, image upscaling through the likes of DLSS, and more doesn't change how these games look or ?play overall. It gives them a fresh coat of paint and updated visuals, but they aren't remakes or even remasters. What they are, however, is a glance at just how far gaming technology has come over the years.

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Look, we're all excited about GTA 6. We'd been waiting for a reveal trailer for ?what felt like forever. The chance to revisit Vice City in the next installment of Rockstar's Goliath franchise is something many of us are looking? forward to. But there is another project that's worth keeping an eye on.

As spotted by DSO Gaming, a studio called Revolution Team is currently remaking the original Vice City, hoping to succeed where the official remaster failed. The trailer below teases what's to be expected in what's being called the Nextgen Edition.

Going off the description on YouTube, the developer is taking the 2002 Grand Theft Auto game and importing it into Rockstar's RAGE engine. More specifically, it looks as though this remake will use the GTA IV version.

No AI upscaling here, it would seem

Revolution Team acknowledges the Definitive Edition, saying that this version of Vice City will be different, i.e. better.

The official remaster uses the Unreal Engine only for rendering, but the game’s physics engine is still? RenderWare, released more than 20 years ago, with outdated mechanics and animations.

The project is expected to release sometime in 2025. Here's what else you can expect in the Nextgen Edition:

�Improved version of the city from Definitive Edition
�Improved weapons from Definitive Edition
�All cars from the Xbox version of the game
�Models of all characters and peds from the Xbox version of the game (with improved textures)
�All original radio stations
�Cut scenes from the original game
�Design in the style of the original game
�Neon on buildings from Vice City Stories
�A??dditional fixes and improvements from the Revolution?? Team

The post In the wake of ?the GTA 6 reveal, an unofficial remake of Vice City is in the pipeline appeared first on Destructoid.

As of right now, the official GTA 6 trailer has been watched on YouTube more than 140 million times. It's become one of the most-watched video game announcements of all time. Give?n that, it was inevitable that some would want a piece of that success by recreating their own versions.

As spotted by PCGamesN, Instagram user evilgame_ytb has put their personal spin on the GTA 6 teaser by giving it the Minecraft treatment. The reel uploaded to their profile sh??ows the blocky recreation of Rockstar's trailer, complete with the Tom Petty soundtrack.

In fact, if you search "GTA 6 trailer in Minecraft" on YouTube, you'll see more than one example. Here's one from Alex & Steve Animation. It's not a shot-for-shot remake, but it's got wide shots of the beach and even features some of the dialogue audio. Of course, Petty crops up again to ?reall??y sell the illusion.

And one done in Los Santos

Other games have been used for a different take on the trailer. Here's one from the channel GTA BELGIUM (as noted by DSO Gaming), which recreates GTA 6 in GTA 5. I??t even opens with a joke by playing the opening to Genesis' "That's All" track before a record scratch and then Tom Petty kicks in.

It follows the same vibe as the official trailer: a glimpse at some of the main characters, establishing shots of the beach and surrounding city life. Except it's in Grand Theft Auto 5. Then it ends with ?another joke, insinuating there's an "expanded and enhanced" version of the game coming to "Pla??yStation 6" in 2030.

All we're missing now is a Skyrim remix. Or maybe one done in Garry's Mod.

The post People are remaking?? the GTA 6 trailer in other games appeared first on Destructoid.

Two days in and the GTA 6 trailer is nearly at 120 million views on YouTube. It's become one of ?the most-watched video game trailers in history, but it's not just benefitting Rockstar. It's also seeing a revival of a music legend.

According to data sent to the BBC by Spotify, the recent GTA 6 reveal has seen interest in the late rock musician Tom Petty soar, thanks to his song "Love Is A Long Road" being featured in the teaser. Streams for the track? �first released in 1989 �have increased by? 36,979%.

Yes, I had to do a double take as well, because that's a comma, not a period. Nearly a 37,000% uptick in one song's popularity is insane, but given the hype around the upcoming Grand Theft Auto entry, it's perhaps not too surprising.

Rock never dies

After ten years of waiting, Rockstar finally gave us a taste of things to come in GTA 6. Sadly, we still have a bit longer to wait until it releases, a??s it's only due to come out in 2025. We don't even have an exact date. All we know is it'll be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. No word on when PC will get it, though.

With Tom Petty's song being given a new lease on life, it calls into question what other tracks will be in the game itself. As a series, Grand Theft Auto is known for?? its soundtrack, featuring a slew of classics from many artists and ?bands.

On a personal note: it absolutely blew my mind when I first heard Slayer's "Raining Blood" on Vice City's V-Rock station. Ah, good times.

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With thousands already waiting for the trailer to drop, the GTA 6 teaser has been one of the most anticipated promos of this year??, maybe of th??is whole generation. While it was unveiled a little earlier than planned, this has only made it possible for even more people to watch it many, many times.

At the time of writing, over 70 million people have seen the GTA 6 trailer over on YouTube. By comparison, "Baby Shark" has amassed around 13 billion views at the time of this writing, so GTA still has some way to go, but we're only on day one so far. Oh, also, the Grand Theft Auto 5 trailer has been viewed 98 million times, so it sounds like th??e new one could easily surpas??s it.

This number of people watching the trailer is going up at a pretty alarming rate, which is not entirely unsurprising. By now, many of you will have seen it, so you'll have your own thoughts on the upcoming new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series.

Sadly, we don't have a release date. All we know is that it's coming in 2025. ?That still feels like a long way off, especially for a game that people have been waiting about a decade for.

Also, no PC release confirmed yet

Parent company Take-Two Interactive also confirmed that GTA 6 will be coming to PS5 and Xbox Series. Nothing's been said about a PC version. If we're going off what happened with Grand Theft Auto 5, PC players might not get it for another year or so after t?he console release.

The teaser itself wasn't actually supposed to release when it did. Due to leaks on social media, Rockstar decided to show the trailer early.

GTA 6 has already been the subject of hacks and leaks, so the fact that someone was able to get the trailer up before the official release time? is not that surprising. Still, it doesn't seem to have harmed the Rockstar YouTube figures much. It could very well go?? down as the most watched video game trailer in history.

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Who's ready for the first, official trailer for GTA 6? Apparently, a lot of people, as plenty have already staked out their digital spot ready to view it. Evidently, thousands don't? want to risk missing what is probably one of the most anticipated teasers in years.

At the time of writing, there are 31,659 people currently waiting on the Rockstar Games YouTube channel, where the GTA 6 trailer will be playing. It's not scheduled to play until Tuesday, December 5 (at 9am ET, to be specific), so you'd be forgiven for thinking ?these eager beavers were being too keen.

However, this could be a pretty historic moment for gaming. Okay, it's only a promo, but seeing as Grand Theft Auto 5 has been out for ten years now, I'd say gamers are more than?? rea?dy for the follow-up.

The numbers just keep going up

Given the behemoth amount of success GTA 5 has had, there's every possibility the sixth inst??allment could be one of the biggest releases of this �or any �generation. Obviously, I don't want to oversell it, but the fact that more than 30,000 people are waiting to watch a YouTube video that can be replaye?d whenever they want shows how important it is to some.

It was just a few weeks ago that Rockstar announced the GTA 6 trailer. We've had barely any information about the game itself, save for the big leak that happened in 2022. Outside that, nobody really knows anything about the upcoming Grand Theft Auto game.

I must admit, I'm quite eager to check out the trailer myself. I've played most of the major entries in the series, going all the wa?y back to the original 1997 release (Yes, I'm that old). We don't know what the teaser will sh?ow, but it's going to be on everyone's lips this side of Christmas.

Ooh, 34,750 people waiting now.

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We're not far off having our eyeballs exposed to the first official GTA 6 trailer. Until then, let's talk about the classic games in Rockstar's iconic series. Hey, did you know there was a point when Vice City? (easily the best en??try �I will fight you all) nearly wasn't its own game?

According to a blog post from Obbe Vermeij �former technical director at Rockstar Games �the follow-up to Grand Theft Auto 3 was just going to be a mission pack. Vermeij said the team had the idea to have a game set in the 80s in Miami. But it wasn't until GTA 3 became as successful as it did that a decision was made to turn Vice City into a standalone entry.

The original project was already six months into development, but artists and level designers were "able to get straight onto" the next in-line for the GTA franchise. Despite it being built off the third game's engine, Vermeij remembers VC being "more stressful" than Grand Theft Auto 3.

But wait...there's more

In an earlier blog, we learn that the studio was keen to try something non-GTA. Inspired by the undead, Rockstar wanted to run with the idea of creating a zombie game that would have been built off the Vice City code.

Vermeij describes the elusive project called "Z" (pronounced either "Zed" or "Ze??e") thus:

The game was to take place on a windswept foggy Scottish island. The player would be under constant attack from zombies. The player would need to use vehicles to get around but vehicles would need fuel. A??cquiring the fuel would be a big part of the game.

Sadly, Z was abandoned a month into development as it was "depressing," and the team got to work on San Andreas. Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.

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With the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer announcement being made recently, all eyes are once again on Rockstar's behemoth franchise. Not that eyes were ever truly off it. GTA 5 is? still doing phenomenally well, as outline??d in Take-Two Interactive's recent figures.

According to conference call notes uploaded a couple of days ago, Grand Theft Auto 5 has now sold approximately 190 million units since it launched in 2013. Compare this to November 2022's prepared remarks �when it had sold 170 million �and it's obvious the game is still selling in drove??s.

At this rate, it could well fly past the 200 million mark, maintaining its stance as the second highest-selling game after Minecraft (which recently hit 300 million).

Better be worth the wait

GTA 6 is still pretty elusive. Aside from the leak in 2022, we really don't know much about the hugely anticipated follow-up. Rockstar has promised the first official trai??ler in December, so at least we h??ave that to look forward to.

It's a tall order to be the next big thing after Grand Theft Auto 5, but a??fter years of speculations, leaks, and the collective will of gamers everywhere, the world is finally ready for the next install?ment.

It's tempting to say that once the sixth game comes out, sales of GTA 5 may slow down significantly.? However, Rockstar's n?ot above rehashing some of its older (and more lucrative) titles, so who knows what the studio has planned for the game. There's still some milking to be done for that proverbial cash cow.

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Rockstar relists their classic trilogy

GTA fans have had something of a rough go of it the past few years, what with the continued radio silence about GTA 6's development since the announcement that it was happening in the first place, and the disappointing launch of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edi?tion back in 2021. Here's hoping that today's news is still something of a respite, despite the Definitive Edition's rough start.

Either way, the trilogy is now available to purchase on Steam, and is also playable on the Steam Deck, which should be exciting to hear for at least some of the GTA diehards out there. Rockstar also stated that they'll be making the game available on the Epic Games Store later this month, so Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition will be?? even more accessible to PC players soon enough.

//twitt?er.com/RockstarGames/status/1616138619273478146

This is the first time GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas will be available on Steam after they were delisted with the release of the Definitive Edition a few years ago -- players previously had to access them through Rockstar's own store if they wanted to play them on the PC at all over the past few years. The trilogy is still available to play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, but here's hoping the Steam Deck capability will make it up to any players who have dealt with any Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition-caused headaches over the past few years.

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Company culture at Rockstar has also been changing

Grand Theft Auto 6 could see a female protagonist at the lead. A new report from Bloomberg drops several details on the upcoming GTA, al?ongside a general shift in Rockstar's culture.

According to people familiar with the game who spoke with Bloomberg, the next Grand Theft Auto will have? a playable female protagonist. She'll be La?tina, and part of a pair of leads in a Bonnie and Clyde-style story.

It's also planning to grow over time, it seems. Original plans for Grand Theft Auto 6 called for large swaths of both North and South America. But Rockstar has reportedly pulled back a bit, and cut the map down to a ficti?onal version of Miami and ??the surrounding area.

The expanse won't end there, though. According to Bloomberg, Rockstar plans to continually update the new GTA over time. This includes adding new missions and cities on a regular basis, in hopes of reducing crunch in the final months. The world will still be large though, reportedly containing more interior locations than previous Grand Theft Auto entries.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkkoHAzjnUs

A new Rockstar

As Bloomberg's report details, this seems like part of a larger shift at Rockstar to address reports of crunch and hard work hours. Rockstar's Dan Houser had to walk back comments on Red Dead Redemption 2's hours. And Rockstar's had reports of rough working conditions stretching back quite a few years.

Things seem to have changed, though. One employee described modern Rockstar to Bloomberg as a "boys' club transformed ?into a real company." Morale is reportedly higher than ever across the company. More producers have reportedly been added to track schedules and avoid overtime.

Development may be stretching out a bit longer for the next Grand Theft Auto, though. Those who spoke to Bloomberg didn't know of an expected date for Grand Theft Auto 6 and said they expect the game is at least two years away. But with the success of GTA Online and the continued popularity of Grand Theft Auto V, the extra time s??eems like it could be a good thing all aro??und.

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The response to the Trilogy sidelined some projects

It looks like Rockstar may be laying off the remasters for a bit. A new report says remasters of both Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto IV were in consideration, but now Rockstar ??is shelving the project??s.

Word first broke from Rockstar leaker Tez, who claimed a reliable source said these remasters were "on the table a few years ago," but Rockstar has chosen not to proce?ed with the projects in mind.

Today, Kotaku followed up with?? ??a report, saying they could confirm that Tez's tweet is accurate to what they've been told.

//twitter.com/TezFunz2/status/1543974193259319303

The decision seems to be indicative of the poor response Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition received. Response at launch indicates it was a technical mess, with patches rolling out soon after to try and tune the project. Rockstar publicly apologized for the state of the Trilogy.

As both Tez and Kotaku indicate, it looks like the remaster trilogy put some ideas on hold. According to Kotaku's sources, Rockstar is hoping people will forget about the remaster as it focuses its attention on Grand Theft Auto VI.

Kotaku does say that while the plan is to get the next GTA out the door, the future is open. Their sources say a possible Red Dead Redemption or GTA IV remaster aren't "out of scope" and could happen after VI ships.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1JJt7xHTlE

Taking some time

The possibility of a Red Dead Redemption remaster in particular is tantalizing. It's also been rumored for a while now. A report from Kotaku last year revealing the Trilogy remaster also indicated RDR would be due up, if the re-releases did well.

It now looks like those plans will have to wait until after Grand Theft Auto VI is out, though.

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An upgrade for the next generation

Just when we thought Rockstar was ready to move on, they dropped an announcement that they're releasing a paid subscription service for GTA Online, called GTA+. GTA Online is still included as part of the base game of Grand Theft Auto V�the subscription will be an add-on serv?ice that's only available for players on PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. We're coming up on the base game's tenth anniversary next year, so it's honestly pretty amazing that i??t's still getting updates, even if they are a bit of a cash grab.

Those who opt into the service will receive a host of benefits every month, including $500,000 delivered to their in-game bank account, gameplay updates, special vehicle updates, cosmetics, discounts, GTA$ and RP bonuses, and more. In addition to the in-game perks, players will also be able to access bonus cash from the PlayStation and Microsoft Stores using the GTA+ Shark Cards. All of the GTA+ perks will be available alongside all of the regular GTA Online events, which will continue as?? usual for everyone.

The announcement of the service has received a less than warm welcome online �a meme has been going for a few years at this point that Rockstar won't ever stop milking the success of GTA V, and it's getting harder and harder to dispute as time goes on. Earlier this week, reports of leaks suggested that the sixth entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is in development, and until it's released, it seems that the fans won't be satiated by anything GTA-related in the meantime. GTA VI isn't likely to drop for another couple of years, according to th?e rumors, so we still have quite a bit of waiting ahead of us.

GTA+ will cost $5.99 a month, and will be available beginning on March 29 exclusively for PS5 and Xbox Se??ries X/??S users.

GTA+ rewards for March 29–April 27

• GTA$500,000 delivered automatically to your Maze Bank Account.
• The Principe Deveste Eight â€?along with a complimentary Hao’s Special Works upgrade for it before it is made available to purchase by the general public â€?plus the HSW Orange Trip and HSW CMYK Glitch Liveries.
• The Auto Shop located in La Mesa, which introduces an assortment of gameplay updates from Los Santos Tuners. Current Auto Shop owners can relocate to La Mesa at no additional cost.
• Waived LS Car Meet Membership fees. Current LS Car Meet members with GTA+ will be reimbursed GTA$50,000 during this event period.
• Yacht owners can upgrade to the Aquarius Super Yacht at no additional cost.
• The Gussét Frog Tee and Broker Prolaps Basketball Top and Shorts automatically added to your wardrobe.
• The Conveyor Livery for the Mammoth Avenger, HVY APC, and TM-02 Khanjali.
• A selection of free paints and emblems for the Auto Shop.
• 3X GTA$ and RP on Hao’s Special Works Race Series.
• 2X Car Meet Rep on the Street Race Series.

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Troubled release 'exceeded' sales expectations

Jaws were left agape when Rockstar Games released its much anticipated Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition in November of 2021. Three of the finest gam?es in open-world history, remastered and bundled together for modern platforms. What could pawsibly go wrong?

Well, a whole lot, it would seem. Plagued with bugs, riddled with texture problems, packed out with typos, and featuring rainstorms that left the title unplayable, GTA Trilogy was roundly trounced by critics for Rockstar's weak efforts to celebrate what are, after all, some of the most influential releases of all-time. Initially pulled from the Rockstar Store, with apologies offered and patches rolled out in abundance, this par?ticular remaster sho?uld, in theory, go down in history as one of gaming's biggest disappointments.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygcJajXYqbc

But, of course, we live in La La Land (albeit one without a dancing Ryan Gosling) and thus, as noted by executives in a Rockstar investor presentation, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition has actually been a massive success, seemingly driving amazing revenue for the developer/publisher's last financial quarter. While Rockstar did not state how many copies of the troubled release were actually sold, it did note that �as a franchise �Grand Theft Auto has sold 370 million units, roughly 160 million of which belong to Grand Theft Auto V.

Given that GTA's lifetime sales back in November stood at 355 million units, (with 155 million belonging to GTA V), we can theorize that the 10 million deficit likely belongs to a GTA title that has launched w?ithin the past six months. No prizes for guessing what that may be. In addition, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has noted that sales of the maligned title "sign??ificantly exceeded" company expectations. Welp.

Of course, this is all old news for GTA fans, who are already feverishly giddy from the announcement that Rockstar has begun development on the newest release in the franchise. It's incredibly unlikely that the new title won't be a highly polished, ninth-gen venture, and will no doubt go on to add further to Rockstar and Take-Two's momentous bank balance. Grand Theft Auto is here to stay, period, and it seems, at least from?? recent evidence, that it doesn't really matter how it's packaged.

GTA??’s remaste??r trilogy has ‘significantly exceeded expectations�/a> [VGC]

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Not so definitive

To be blunt: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is ?a technical mess that shouldn't have been released in its current state. To make ??matters worse, though, Rockstar Games also removed the original versions of these games off every digital storefront across PC and consoles.

This mustache-twirling scheme from Rockstar is ironically almost like something you'd hear as an ad parody for a remaster of a game on the radio in any of these classic GTA titles.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition (PS5 [reviewed], PS4, Xbox Series X/S Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC)
Developer: Grove Street Games, Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Released: November 11, 2021
MSRP: $59.99

If you're treating The Definitive Edition as ??an excuse to replay these games again or if you're a first-timer to the series, there is still some fun to be found here (especially with cheats), as well as some convenient quality-of-life improvements across this whole collection.

Ultimately, though, I'd advise just sticki?ng to your original copies (if you have them) either until they've heavily p?atched these games or until the collection is at a significantly reduced price. Each game in this collection has its own unique and odd issues �alongside plenty of issues present across the whole thing �but let's start with the game that forever changed the landscape of 3D open-world games to come.

Grand Theft Auto III: Definitive Edition

Someone once described Grand Theft Auto III as "a lot iller," and much like the word "iller," GTA III? hasn't aged all that gracefully. Its missions are relatively basic and bland compared to modern open-world games and even to its younger siblings found in this same collection. If you're a big fan of picking up things to a timer, driving through rings to a timer, or killing people to a timer, you're going to be in for a good time (pun intended).

If not, well, the Definitive Edition of GTA III offers some improvements in the form of an in-game map with markers, waypoints, and GPS routes to help you find, steal, and kill things to a timer. One of my favorite updates to the Definitive Edition is now just being able to simply press down on the d-pad to make the on-screen mini-map expand and show ?more of the map itself. This minor update to the mini-map was a godsend for finding various markers dur??ing missions or quickly finding those pesky bridges.

There have even been some minor tweaks to the control schemes; for example, using the sniper rifle feels so much better now on analog sticks compared to the original PS2 release (although tha?t could be the hardware itself). Missions like "Bomb Da Base" �where you have to guard 8ball as he infiltrates a container ship and plants a bomb �are a complete breeze ??now since I could pop everyone's heads in a matter of seconds.

As a result, the sniper rifle became one of my go-to weapons in the Definitive Edition of GTA III and Vice City because it gave me the distance advantage, and I didn't have to deal with the incredibly dated lock-on shooting systems. I'm surprised Grove Street Games didn't wholly overhaul this shooting system, in general. Switching between targets does a feel bit faster and snappier now across the whole collection. However, you still take so much damage out in the open in GTA III that you're better off picking enemies off?? from a distance or relying on your vehicle to d??rive people over or gun them down.

Don't rely on your vehicle too much, though, as gangs in GTA III are still incredibly hostile late into the story and can blow you up out of nowhere. This became very frustrating whenever a race or mission had me going back to older (and now much more hostile) areas. Thankfully, this collection also has one of the best quality-of-life improvements in simply restarting a mission upon failure. No mo??re reloading a save or restocking all your weapons after waking up at the hospital. Now you can begin the mission again with all your health, armor, and weapons you had on you when you initially started ?it.

For GTA III, specifically, it's a much-needed necessity given that it's the most challenging game in the trilogy. However, the biggest crime with the Definitive Edition of GTA III is just how soulless it feels in terms of art direction. Although the new lighting system is impressive, the original PS2 release had a distinctive blue, green, and gray color pallet that added to Liberty City's dreary atmosphere, which is now completely absent. I even miss the more minor details, like the random newspapers blowing all over the streets. In the Definitive Edition, the ove??rall aesthetic looks so much cleaner and?? sterile now as a result.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Definitive Edition

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is my favorite out of the PS2 trilogy, and it also feels like it got the most love within the Definitive Edition trilogy. The new lighting system is put to good use with all the bright neon featured in Vice City. The more colorful color pallet is also more appropriate for the setting and atmosphere. Walking out of the Ocean View Hotel early in the morning, for example, looks stunning with the vibrant pinks and blues in the skybox. The sam??e goes for once the sun sets, with the dark purples filling the n??ight sky.

Combine that with an incredible '80s radio mix (despite missing a few notable tracks), and it makes just driving around Vice City pure bliss. That said, I'm still not crazy about some of the updated character models, including Tommy's updated look. There are also several bizarre misspelled art assets and signs throughout this collection, with some notable highlights in the Vice City Definitive Edition that either ruin th?e joke entirely or no longer make any sense at all. It's just downright baffling this stuff wasn't caught or addressed before release?.

The narrative is more memorable than GTA III's more cut-and-dry rise through the criminal ranks approach. Although you'll still be doing exactly that while you take over Vice City, what makes it so much more memorable is the cast of characters and major set-piece moments. For one, it helps that protagonist is fully voice acted, and although being a bit dry at times, Ray Liotta does a pretty decent job overall. However, my absolute favorite characters are all the side characters and mission givers you'll encounter on Tommy's journey to ruling Vice City.

Drug-fueled adventures with Love Fist, gangs, lawyers, and entrepreneurs that deal with competition in ways you'd expect hiring a criminal such as Tommy would entail are just some of the many encounters you'll have in Vice City. Howeve??r, in these larger set-piece moments and shootouts, the overall gameplay shows its age. ??Having a handy weapon wheel that slows down time when switching weapons is an excellent addition, but the controls and gunplay are still incredibly underwhelming by today's standards.

Although Vice City is still a bit easier overall than GTA III and its overuse of timed missions, it has plenty of larger shootouts that can be just as unforgiving. Certain weapons also feel terrible to use, such as the M4 that locks you into place and puts you into a first-person perspective. Although the remapped controls and lock-on aiming feels a bit tighter now, again, it's just surprising Grove Street Games didn't go all out on revamping the gunplay across these games for this supposed "Definitive Edition" collection.

Vice City also introduced motorcycles, helicopters, and functional planes into the mix, which added a nice variety to the vehicles and traversal. Boats, most notably, were thrown into the mix as well, and there's plenty of missions that utilize them. So, you'd think another decent quality-of-life improvement would be the ability to swim now, but sadly, you'll still get wasted the moment you hit deeper water in both GTA III and Vice City.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Definitive Edition

Out of three games in this collection, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas feels like it was the one that was the most rushed out the door and it has tons of technical issues as a result. Character models are broken and can be incredibly buggy at times. Side characters such as CJ's various dating options can look downright hideous. The massive draw distance does the exact opposite of making this open-world feel bigg??er. It's a mess all around.

San Andreas was one of the most impressive open-world games of its time, and although not my favorite game from the PS2 trilogy, I can't deny its sheer variety and scope. However, the Definitive Edition just straight-up jeopardizes that legacy. Whenever I'm starting to enjoy the Boyz n the Hood-inspired antics of the story and characters, suddenly CJ's face becomes a pixelated horror, an??d it just pulls me right out of the experience.

For context, I spent four hours with each game on launch day, and by the time I got to San Andreas and experienced how broken it was, I felt? like an egg was thrown at my face. Not to mention this whole collection suffers from frame rate and crashing issues. If you're on PS5 and play the PS4 versions, I hear the frame rate is much smoot??her, but the resolution is now sub-1080p as a result. Why modern consoles can't run games that look like this at a stable frame rate is beyond me.

As for San Andreas itself, this game's mission variety, customization options, and scope are impressive. Many of the missions in San Andreas also further ramp up the complexity, spectacle, and set pieces �making some of them a lot longer as a result. Thankfully, a new checkpoint system was implemented in the Definitive Edition, making it so missions can be restarted at specific moments (as opposed to entirely from the beginning). Outside of that, though, many of the new quality-of-life updates are not as noticeable when contrasted with how they affect GTA III and Vice City.

However, no amount of checkpoints can help my frustration with the RC toy missions across this trilogy. Notably, they did add additional time to some of these to make them more manageable, but these tiny vehicle horrors control just as poorly as I remember. The toy helicopter is easy enough to keep afloat, but getting it to turn can be a bit of a pain, while the toy planes are still an absolute nightmare to control all around. The Top Fun van and Zero's missions in San Andreas and Vice City will?? forever haunt my m??emories and spoil the thought of replaying these games.

It's safe to say this collection has already accomplished spoiling things for a lot of people. Outside of some decent quality-of-life stuff, there are just too many technical problems to consider these versions "definitive," and I can't wholeheartedly recommend anyone play or purchase Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition at the moment.

So, to recap my advice at the beginning: stick to your original copies if you still have them. If you need to see this mess in action for yourself, either wait until developer Grove Street Games heavily patches this collection or wait for a dee??ply discounted sale.

_{[This review is based on retail builds of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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The classic PC versions will also go back on sale on the Rockstar Store

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition launched last week, and has not had a grand reception. Following a poor response to the collection's technical state and issues with its availability, Rockstar has issued an apology and update for the "unexpected technical issues" in the Grand Theft Auto trilogy.

In a Rockstar Games blog post, the company says it wants to "sincerely apologize to everyone who has encountered issues playing these games." Rockstar acknowledges that the updated versions of Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas did not meet its standard??s of quality that?? fans expect from Rockstar.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1JJt7xHTlE

The publisher says a new Title Update will arrive in the coming days for all versions of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy that will address "a number of issues," and they will update everyone as s??oon as it's live. Rockstar also says more planned updates will be on the way, with each one improving the games and reaching the level of quality they "deserve to?? be."

Additionally, Rockstar addressed the fact that it had taken down the "classic" versions of these games ahead of the trilogy's launch. The PC classic versions of Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas will be put back on the Rockstar Store as a bundle "shortly." Everyone who purchased the PC version of the Grand Theft Auto trilogy from the Rockstar Store, from now through June 30, 2022 will also receive? these classic versions for free.

As detailed in our review of the trilogy, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is presently a pretty lackluster version of these classic games. We'll see whether further updates can rectify these issues. But at least the classic versions are going back up, albeit on the Rockstar Store, and in the wake of many mods going down.

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"Ah shit, here we go again."

Before I jump into each individual game, let's discuss the high-res textured elephant in the room that is this collection's visuals. If, by some miracle, you aren't aware yet, basically, the graphical fidelity of the Definitive Edition for these th?ree games is a??????????????????????????ll over the place in terms of quality.

At their worst, developer Grove Street Games either re-used original textures or attempted to recreate the asset entirely to very mixed results. We're talking utterly botched character models for certain characters (that arguably look worse now than their original models), bizarre spelling errors in various signs, and downright distracting rain effects across all three games.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy �The Definitive Edition (PS5 [reviewed] PS4, Xbox Series X/S Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Developer: Grove Street Games, Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Released: November 11, 2021
MSRP: $59.99

At their best, many of the updated environments look pretty solid (at least from what I've seen so far). The bright neon signs in Vice City look stunning in 4K HDR, and they've also added some cool effects like parallax interiors for a lot of t??he windows and storefronts across all three games.

For the most part, the updated visuals make revisiting these iconic locations an absolute trip. Once I actually got knee-deep into playing each of these games again, I? began to realize that �outside of the visuals �the all-around gameplay enhancements are pretty trivial for the most part. So, with the graphical talk (mostl?y) out of the way, let me recap my experiences with each of these games so far.

Grand Theft Auto III

I adore Grand Theft Auto III. I have so many fond memories of spawning a tank, going on a rampage, making the gun on it fire backward to propel even faster (or even literally fly off ramps while doing so). However, outside of the rampages and cheat codes, following the basic mission structure and story alongside the other games in this collection, it really becomes evident just how basic Grand Theft Auto III feels by comparison.

I love Tommy Vercetti and CJ, but I've always viewed Claude Speed as just some mute dude who took? Catalina off CJ's hands and ultimately paid the price for it. Admittedly, even the supporting cast of characters range from somewhat interesting (like Toni Cipriani and his mom constantly yelling at him in the background during cutscenes) to downright trope-filled - like a lot of the other mission givers you encounter.

I'd also consider Grand Theft Auto III the most challenging game in the collection in terms of missions because so many of them involve timers, and the controls �for the most part �are still very rigid and janky all around. If you were expecting some crazy overhaul to the combat, then you're going to be disappointed. Combat is still pretty much the same run-around-and-lock-on affair that it was in the original, and it can be incredibly r?ough and unforgiving at times.

In terms of improvements, the updated weapon wheel now slows down time when switching weapons, which is an absolute godsend, but you should still fully expect the Triad to blow up your car the moment you enter Chinatown. Thankfully, the inclusion of a proper in-game map (waypoint markers and all) can help you avoid that. It'll also make finding those pesky bridges during later time-based missions that have you going across them far less stressful, thanks to GPS routes like in Grand Theft Auto IV and V.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Vice City is easily my favorite GTA game from the original PS2 trilogy. This game was pretty much my introduction to the '80s growing up (a decade I wasn't even born in). Despite that, though, I still fell in love with the radio mix. Hall & Oates, Megadeth, A Flock of Seagulls, Vice City was my introduction to nearly all of this music.

So, if you're like me, the first question that was on your mind when this collection was announced was whether or not Rockstar renewed the license to bring back the complete soundtrack for these games. Sadly, they didn't (and possibly couldn't, no matter how much money they tossed at them). This is purely speculation, but it wouldn't surprise me if some of these artists just don't want their music associated with Grand Theft Auto anymore. ?So that means no "Billie Jean" �which is absolutely criminal (and not in? a smooth way).

Do you know what's even more criminal, though? Tommy Vercetti (and I don't even mean literally). I'm specifically referring to how he looks now. It's one thing to botch random NPC??s or side characters, but it's a whole other thing to mess up the look of the actual protagonist. Obviously, this is a subjective take, and some folks may not care at all, but I just can't ge??t over the updated model for Tommy. He looks weirdly younger and more like a bloated Ken doll now.

Outside of the visual and audio hiccups, Vice City remains a more action-packed GTA III in terms of missions. It has bigger set pieces (and thus more people shooting at you), and a fair bit of them are set within interior areas now, which - when combined with the still clunky lock-on shooting system - makes for some downright frustrating moments. Thankfully, the Definitive Edition iterations of these games ?also introduced the ability to restart failed miss?ions without the need to drive all the way back to the mission marker. I'd argue that this new feature is probably the best quality-of-life update across the entire collection.

However, when this collection was ini??tially announced, outside of the soundtrack stuff, I had one other question on my mind...

Dan's DEFINITIVE Bigfoot Hunting Escapades in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Outside of the possibility of a restored soundtrack, I only had one other question on my mind when this collection was announced: What if they added Bigfoot!? Unfortunately, before I could even access the areas required for my investigation, I nearly forgot these earlier GTA games gated off the other parts of ??the game behind story progression. So, I had to spend a whole evening doing nothing but story missions in Los Santos before I got access to the enti?re countryside required for this investigation.

Hell, I even followed the damn train on my first attempt without any issues. I'm not sure whether that was pure luck, skill, or maybe Grove Street Games legitimately tweaked some missions across this collection to make them more manageable. Thankfully,?? with the help of s?ave abusing and horse betting, I secured myself a small fortune as well. More than enough to purchase as much firepower and body armor I needed to pretty much breeze through most missions, and witness CJ's face become a horrifying pixel monstrosity during a cutscene.

There were three rumored areas Bigfoot would supposedly appear: Back O' Beyond, Mount Chiliad, or the Shady Cabin. So, after putting on The X-Files theme to set the mood just right, I began my search in the deep woods of the Back O'Beyond to truly see if some bored developers decided to make one of the most iconic San Andreas myths a reality (I don't count the one in GTA V because that was just a dude in a costume).

As the sun was setting in the Back O'Beyond, I stumbled on the Shady Cabin. Just like in the original, it was abandoned. Not entirely surprising, but it was worth at least checking out. The Back O'Beyond had some interesting oddities in the original game outside of empty cabins and Bigfoot myths; it also had ghost cars!

That's right, creepy abandoned cars that randomly rolled down hills in the middle of nowhere. People theorize this was purposely implemented by the developers to freak people out that were exploring around here. Sadly, in the Definitive Edition, these horrors spawn, but they don't actually mov?e or do much of anything now.

Shortly after checking on the cars, I noticed something a little odd in the form of a nearby bridge just clipping in and out of e??xistence. I thought this was strange given the now-massive draw distance featured in this collection, so I immediately made my way there only to discover something supernatural... A g??host bridge!

That's right, the moment I drove onto the bridge, it vanished beneath me! (I was still able to drive on it, thankfully). I've come back here multiple times now, and this happens every time. I kind of doubt it's intentional and likely just another b??izarre graphical bug, but I found it very amusing. From there, I only hav??e one last place to check out: Mount Chiliad.

Once I arrived, I took out my c??amera and panned around for a few minutes, but much like my attempts at looking for Bigfoot in the original game, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Once at the very top of the mountain, I took in the beautiful sight??s... and the draw distance of San Andreas.

It's pretty jarring (especially when flying around in a plane or jet), and I do wonder if Grove Street Games will possibly address this in future patches with some sort of fog implementatio?n as was used in? the original.

So far, my all-around experience with the Definitive Edition trilogy is very mixed. On one hand, I'm still having fun just revisiting these games. On the other hand, I can't help but feel like this collection needed more time in the oven. G??oing forward, I have a full review (and video review) planned, and I'm morbidly curious what other graphical oddities I'll encounter once I begin playing and exploring the later acts of these games. I'm also dreading the RC vehicle missions, but perhaps they've tweaked them, or at the very least, improved the controls on the tiny vehicles themselves.

Stay tuned for my full review to find out!

_{[This review in progress is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review in Progress: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition appeared first on Destructoid.

And they could be coming to the Nintendo Switch

It sounds like some PS2-era Grand Theft Auto games could be getting some modern versions. According to a new report from Kotaku, Rockstar Games might be remastering Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas for a bunch of platforms, including the Switch.

The report notes that rumors have been around about remasters and remakes of these Grand Theft Auto games for a while, including speculation around Take-Two's remaster plans. Kotaku says it can confirm via details from three sources that the GTA remasters are curren??tly?? in the final stage of development.

These games are reportedly being remastered in Unreal Engine, with a mix of new and old grap?hics and an updated UI that retains the classic style of those games.

Rockstar Dundee is reportedly leading development, and plans have apparently shifted around quite a bit due to the pandemic. As plans reportedly stand, the remasters will be coming in "late October or early November" for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, ?PC, Stadia, and mobile phones. Kotaku does note that the PC and mobile ports may slip into the next year, as Rockstar could focus on consoles first.

Rockstar also reportedly has plans to develop new ports of games like Red Dead Redemption, but that fut?ure might depend on how well these initial relaunches sell.

A remastered version of these classics would probably be a welcome launch for nostalgic GTA fans. The 3D, PlayStation 2-era Grand Theft Auto games had a pretty big impact, and being able to go back to Vice City and San Andreas sounds rad. Plans are always subject to change, especially due to current worldwide conditions, but we'll see if these (hopefully) come to fruition ??later in the year.

The post Grand Theft Auto remastered trilogy?? reportedly on the way appeared first on Destructoid.