After two years, Rockstar Games is finally bridging the gap between GTA Online players on current-gen consoles and the PC.
The Grand Theft Auto 5 experience on PC, and by extension that on GTA Online, has always been sub-optimal compared to its console counterparts. This misalignment continued with the release of Grand Theft Auto 5: Expanded and Enhanced, which, along with graphical upgrades, added exclusive content to GTA Online for those who owned a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X — but soon this will finally change.
Luckily in recent months, Rockstar Games has been slowly improving GTA Online's experience on PC. Now, after introducing BattlEye to GTA Online on PC, Rockstar is finally giving GTA Online PC players a chance to enjoy previously locked content.
The upcoming update promises to bridge the chasm between the PC and current-gen versions of GTA Online. While Rockstar has not provided an exhaustive list of what PC players can expect, we can anticipate several significant additions based on the console versions' features.
One of the most notable features likely to be included is Hao's Special Works, the fan-favorite mechanic that allows for enhanced vehicle customization and a slew of performance upgrades, offering a new level of depth to the game's already extensive vehicle modification options.
Additionally, PC players can look forward to the introduction of the Career Builder and Career Progress features. These systems provide a more structured approach to the GTA Online experience, allowing players to choose a criminal career path and track their progress more effectively.
The update is also expected to bring a range of new vehicles to the PC version of GTA Online like the Karin S95, Pfister Astron Custom, and the Pegassi Weaponized Ignus. PC players have long sought to have access these vehicles after watching their console-playing counterparts enjoy them for months.
On the technical side, while not explicitly confirmed, it's reasonable to expect that the PC update will include ray-tracing and improved particle effects. These could push the PC version of GTA V to newer, greater heights, potentially surpassing the console versions in terms of visual quality — again.
The timing of this announcement is particularly interesting, coming as it does in the wake of increasing speculation about a second trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 after Take-Two Interactive's next earnings call. While Rockstar remains tight-lipped about the next installment in the series, this commitment to updating the second-best-selling video game of all time suggests that the developer is not yet ready to move on from its current cash cow.
However, given the company's history of delays and the complexity of porting the console-exclusive features, it's worth tempering expectations. "New year" might not necessarily mean January, but at any point in 2025.
For what it's worth, the announcement comes shortly after the leak of GTA 5's PC build, which also included a glimpse at the in-development PC port of GTA 6. In an ideal world, the homogeneity of video game development across multiple platforms means that it won't take as long for Rockstar to port GTA 6 on PC. But we'll have to wait and see.
In the meantime, GTA Online fans can enjoy the latest update to the game, which adds new modes, bonuses, and a whole bunch of freebies.
