In the immortal words of LL Cool J: “Don’t call it a comeback.”
Or do… just don’t call it a “remaster” or a “reboot.”
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition will officially be released on November 11, 2021, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via the Rockstar Games Launcher. The Trilogy will be released digitally for $59.99, with physical editions hitting shelves on December 7 for PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Visual enhancements such as an entirely rebuilt lighting system and upgraded character, environment, and vehicle models will be a sight for sore eyes, but don’t fret traditionalists. Rockstar has assured that the open worlds from each game will still maintain in tact with the graphical charms of the original releases.
The Definitive Edition – which will include the games of Grand Theft Auto III, GTA: Vice City, and GTA San Andreas – will see GTA 5-inspired controls including targeting and lock-on aiming and updated weapon and radio station wheel navigation. The PC version of the game will come with NVIDIA DLSS support, while the Nintendo Switch version will feature Gyro aiming and utilize the touch screen for things like zooming in on the camera and menu navigation.
If you’re holding out hope for PlayStation Now and Xbox Game Pass, you’re in luck – albeit only for select games in The Trilogy. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition will be hitting Xbox Game Pass on November 11, and Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition will be available to play on PlayStation Now on December 7.
It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the GTA series – whether you've been playing since the beginning or are brand-new to the games collected in The Trilogy. Rockstar is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of the game that started it all – Grand Theft Auto III – by releasing commemorative in-game items in GTA Online that feature some of GTAIII’s most iconic weapons, such as the original baseball bat.
"GTA III helped clarify our approach to making games,” says Aaron Garbut, Head of Development, Co-Studio Head at Rockstar North who has overseen the design of Rockstar’s open worlds since GTA III. “It’s something that has stuck with us in every game we make, from GTA III through to GTA V, the Red Dead Redemption series, and everything else: we are focused on building worlds – and on making these worlds as believable, detailed, interesting, varied and alive as possible. We want to make worlds that you feel like you are living in, that feel dynamic and filled with other characters. Where it’s not just a façade that comes alive around you and for you, but as real a place as we can manage, and one that is filled with stories, characters, events and fun, interesting things to do."
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition will launch digitally on November 11, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC