With Grand Theft Auto 5 soon launching across a third generation of home consoles natively — it's already available via backwards compatibility on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, in which case you'd be playing older versions on the new systems — it is clear that Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games have no qualms about updating titles for a new era.
However, will other, older GTA games follow suit?
Speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked about the way the company approaches remasters and rereleases, as well as a specific question about GTA titles. As is to be expected, Zelnick didn't give any answers directly referencing or revealing previously unannounced projects, since these conferences do not serve that purpose.
Responding to a question about whether remasters will grow to form a bigger part of the publishing strategy, Zelnick responded that he does not see the practice appear in a greater role than before, but that we can definitely expect remasters of Take-Two properties at a pace as we've seen until now.
While most people don't usually think of GTA 5 when hearing the word "remaster" — the term has prominently been associated with older titles being updated by a greater degree — the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC versions of the game technically qualify. On the 2K side of things, Mafia and Mafia 2 were recently launched in a remastered bundle including both titles.
Alongside citing these examples, Zelnick noted that the reason why remasters won't become a more prominent element is their approach to these projects — instead of direct ports, he said that they "actually take the time to do the very best job we can making the title different for the new release, for the new technology".
So, we improve the technology, we upgrade the visuals, and we make performance enhancements. And that’s why I think our remastered titles typically do so well.
What may have been more directly interesting for GTA fans was a direct question about the possibility of remastering older titles like San Andreas, Vice City and others. It was pointed out that, through the massive success of GTA 5 and Online — the game recently shipped 140 Million copies — there is a massive slice of the fanbase that hasn't played any other game in the series, presumably.
These fans could likely be mobilized with the launch of remastered GTA titles, as many are undoubtedly interested in other games from the franchise, and an updated look could be the sell they need.
I’m kind of inclined to leave it more as a statement than a question and any update on our release schedule will come from Rockstar Games.
As always, the standard response points to Rockstar Games themselves being the source of any official announcements. There have been rumors swirling about remasters to be released, including a direct reference in a recently posted major GTA 6 leak — which you should take with a pinch of salt, naturally.
Hopefully Rockstar will explore the possibility of dusting off old classics and offering a new generation of fans the chance to enjoy titles like GTA San Andreas or GTA 3 with current visuals.
