Today, March 4, Grand Theft Auto V will soon be getting an upgrade on PC, bringing highly requested features that were previously exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions. This includes new vehicles, performance upgrades, the option to subscribe to GTA+, and more. Anyone who currently owns GTAV on PC can upgrade to this new version for free, with the ability to migrate their Story Mode and Online progress. Here’s a closer look at everything coming with the new GTA V Enhanced.

The enhanced version of the popular Rockstar title has been available for pre-load for a few days now, so if you haven’t already prepared for the launch, now’s the time to do so.

New gameplay content and visual upgrades

First off, the upcoming GTA V Enhanced will bring significant visual upgrades, including ray tracing features exclusive to PC, such as ambient occlusion and global illumination. As seen in the console version, the game will also feature ray-traced shadows and reflections to enhance visuals even further. Additionally, the upgrade will introduce support for AMD FSR1, FSR3, and NVIDIA DLSS 3, along with higher resolutions, expanded aspect ratio support, and higher frame rates.

Technical Enhancements

Depending on hardware support, GTAV players on PC who upgrade will be able to enjoy:

– Ray tracing features only available on PC such as ambient occlusion and global illumination — plus ray traced shadows and reflections first debuted on consoles
– Support for AMD FSR1 and FSR3, and NVIDIA DLSS 3
– Faster loading times using SSD and DirectStorage on supported devices and configurations
– Enhanced support for higher resolutions, higher aspect ratios, and higher framerates
– DualSense controller support, with adaptive triggers
– Enhanced audio with support for Dolby Atmos and improved fidelity of speech, cinematics, and music

Source: Steam

Enhanced visuals aren't the only highlight of this upgrade. This version also adds Hao's Special Works auto shop, where you'll gain access to five vehicles previously exclusive to consoles, and players will be able to participate in the daily Wildlife Photography Challenge for new rewards. On top of that, those with the upgraded version of Grand Theft Auto V will be able to purchase GTA+, GTA Online's premium membership service, which offers special benefits such as GTA$500,000 every month and member-only Shark Cards with a 15% bonus GTA$.

The original version of GTA V isn’t going anywhere

Interestingly, alongside the release of GTA V Enhanced, support for the older version will continue, allowing those with lower-end hardware to keep playing. However, the original version of GTA Online on PC will exist as a separate instance, meaning players who stay on that version won't be able to join sessions with those on the upgraded version. This means PC players who want to play together must ensure they're on the same version of the game.

If you’re planning to download the free upgrade, GTA V Enhanced should already be available in your library for pre-loading. You’ll also be able to migrate your Story Mode progress and GTA Online character to the enhanced version to continue where you left off. However, this is a one-time migration, and progress cannot be transferred back. There’s a lot more content coming with this upgrade, so we highly recommend checking out the Steam notes to stay up to date on everything new before the update goes live today.

About the Author

Hassam Nasir

Hassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.