Eight years after its initial release, GTA V offers a launch on the ninth generation of consoles to take advantage of the technical capabilities of these machines. 4K, 60 FPS, ray tracing… The game will receive a facelift to have a rendering closer than ever to PC but on consoles. But beyond those technicalities, are the additions to these next-gen versions enough to justify a return to the box office?
Summary
- A matter of price
- Next-gen graphics?
- Reduced loading times for better gaming comfort
- GTA Online more accessible than before?
A matter of price
Before we talk about the new features of the PS5 and Xbox Series versions, let’s first return to the game’s terms and conditions. While free or paid bets are becoming more and more democratized with the ninth generation of consoles, Rockstar is definitely not doing it like everyone else. As a matter of fact, If you own GTA V on PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll need to buy the game a second time on PS5 and Xbox Series if you want to take advantage of those versions. However, rest assured that you can still transfer your save from GTA V and GTA Online via your Rockstar Social Club account, but only once, which is quite restrictive.
Knowing that players would be unhappy having to pay back the game for the fourth time, Rockstar still wanted to make a commercial gesture. Until June 14th, the full version of GTA V, ie the story mode and GTA Online, is sold for $20 on Microsoft Store and $10 on PlayStation Store. If you only want to get your hands on GTA Online, the latter is sold separately for $10 on the Microsoft Store, while it’s free for all PS5 owners. Once June 14th is over, prices will return to normal and GTA V will therefore be sold on PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store for $40 and GTA Online alone for $20. Half the price of the games on these consoles, therefore, but more logical for a title that was released eight years ago. Don’t look for the physical editions now as the game won’t be available in the box until April.
Next-gen graphics?
With the question of price flattened, it’s time to address the main novelty of these versions of the PS5 and Xbox series: the graphical improvements. As usual with this generation of consoles, we are offered several different display modes. But while we’re used to having the choice between two types of graphics, this time players can choose between three different graphical representations.
First we have the Fidelity mode, which offers a native resolution in 4K, ray tracing but at the expense of a lower frame rate, in thirty frames per second on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Unfortunately, the Xbox Series S has to be content with a 4K that is described as upscaled, i.e. stretched, and is therefore less good than native 4K. After this type of display, which favors the resolution of the image, we find the performance mode, which puts the emphasis on the fluidity of the action. As such, we’re entitled to a consistent 60 frames per second on PS5 and Xbox Series X at the expense of an upscaled 4K resolution, which sadly becomes 1080p on Xbox Series S. Finally, the last display mode is exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, as it is particularly resource-intensive. As a matter of fact, Performance RT rendering offers the best of both worlds, with a frame rate of 60 fps, upscaled 4K resolution and even ray tracing. To see the result, you should know that all excerpts from this test video were recorded in Performance RT to fully exploit the possibilities of the next-gen consoles.
With these versions of the PS5 and Xbox series It’s clear that GTA V has never looked so good on consoles that it offers rendering close to high-end PCs. If we don’t take into account all the mods that have since tried to beautify the game released back in 2013, we remember. In addition, even if the experience is much more fluid and clear than before, the title still shows the number of years for certain elements such as facial animations. But hey, nothing too shocking to spoil the gaming experience.
Reduced loading times for better gaming comfort
In addition to a more pleasing visual aspect, GTA V also uses the technical possibilities of the PS5 and Xbox series to offer a more comfortable gaming experience. One of the great strengths of these new versions is above all the drastic reduction in the initial loading time.. Remember that on PS4 and Xbox One you had to wait almost two minutes before you could join Los Santos and start playing. Now that initial loading falls below 30 seconds, i. H. A four times faster loading thanks to the performance of the SSD of these machines.
But, When switching between characters, the load time remains fairly similar to the previous generation of consoles
GTA Online more accessible than before?
Beyond the graphical part, the arrival of GTA V on the PS5 and Xbox series also brings some changes in multiplayer mode: Grand Theft Auto Online. First, the online experience obviously benefits from all the tech improvements we’ve mentioned so far: 4K resolution, framerate at 60fps, ray tracing, and so on. But just like the main campaign, the most pleasant improvements of these next-gen releases are the loading times, which are much faster than before. After these technical points We know that GTA Online is now entitled to a menu that lets you choose an activity like a race or a heist before you even set foot in Los Santos. A clever way by the developers to save players even more time to avoid the long initial loading time before running an activity.
Once inside the game, we’re pleasantly surprised to see that these versions of the PS5 and Xbox series of GTA Online has a new tutorial so that everyone can start the online experience in good conditions. In the Career Editor, new players must first choose one of four criminal careers: Accountant, Arms Dealer, Nightclub Boss, or Biker. They then receive 4 million dollars to spend in several obligatory categories: a headquarters to host their more or less legal activities, elements to improve the place, a vehicle, weapons, etc. The title then performs the player’s hand several tutorial missions to show him the different activities that can be carried out in GTA Online
This is a huge evolution since the title’s launch, when players were dropped off at the airport complete with only a gun in their pocket, with little real idea of where to go next. But when the tutorial phase is over, There’s something about feeling a little overwhelmed with all the content that GTA Online now offers after eight years of its existence
Finally, in addition to a new menu and tutorial, You should know that these versions of the PS5 and Xbox series are also entitled to exclusive content, at least for the moment. At the Los Santos Auto Show, you can meet Hao and his shop, Hao’s Special Works, where you can buy and tune up upgrades for his cars. Once these changes are complete, you will be able to compete in new racing events, including a time trial. Finally, note that Premium Test Vehicles are also available for testing weekly so players can make up their minds before purchasing. Content that is not revolutionary but will delight driving enthusiasts. While the GTA Online experience on the PS5 and Xbox series seems to be most enjoyable on consoles, We can blame the title for still not offering crossplay eight years after its release. An absence that is all the more unfortunate given that these consoles are still difficult to access today, reducing the number of players that can be encountered online.
With this third release for the PS5 and Xbox series, Grand Theft Auto V has never looked so good on consoles. 4K resolution, 60 frames per second frame rate, ray tracing… This port effectively exploits the technical capabilities of next-generation consoles to offer the most enjoyable experience possible with greatly reduced loading times. In addition, GTA V remains what is, namely an incredible open world full of activity, but dating back to 2013 and therefore showing the number of years at certain points such as facial animations. But more than the single player mode, it is above all GTA Online that stands out as the winner of this arrival on PS5 and Xbox Series, with a tutorial for new players, exclusive content and all the graphic and technical improvements of the game . A port that is therefore intended more for players of the online mode than for those who ended the adventure of Michael, Franklin and Trevor years ago, for lack of great novelties.
Read our review of Grand Theft Auto V for PS5 and Xbox Series
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