Most games aren’t even upgraded once for a new system generation, let alone twice. Grand Theft Auto V, which debuted on Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2013, will receive an “enhanced and expanded” edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S later this month, but with one costly twist: GTA V will be $20 cheaper on Sony’s new-gen device.
Pre-orders for the updated version of GTA V, which will be available digitally on March 17, have begun in several areas, as first reported by VGC. The whole package, which includes both story mode and GTA Online, costs $40. However, for the next week, the game will be 50% cheaper on Xbox Series X/S and 75% off on PS5. GTA Online will also be available for free to PS Plus subscribers, while Xbox Live Gold members will have to pay for it separately.
This is already becoming perplexing, so let’s break it down further:
- The standard price for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S is $40.
- Xbox Series X/S discount price: $20
- The PS5 has a $10 discount.
- GTA Online Xbox Series X/S reduced price: $10
- GTA Online PS5 discount price: Free
As VGC points out, the price disparity appears to be the result of an ongoing deal in which GTA Online is available for free as part of PlayStation Plus through June. However, because the new-gen edition of GTA V includes both the story and online features, Xbox Series X/S customers are unable to purchase simply the single-player campaign for the same $10 as PS5 owners. I’ve already done much too much math for a game that was released nearly a decade ago.
The updated version of GTA V has three graphical modes, shorter load times, and a lot of changes to vehicle variety, vegetation density, lighting, and explosives. It will also allow for the one-time story and online character migrations between the game’s previous and new generations. Players’ existing saves will effectively transfer, but only once. While this data can be transferred between PS4, Xbox One, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S consoles, previously acquired GTA$ cash must remain within the platform family from where it was obtained.
Rockstar Games first revealed GTA V for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in June 2020, three months into the global epidemic. It, like practically everything else, was severely delayed. The game, on the other hand, continues to sell like hotcakes. Take-Two revealed last year that it had surpassed 155 million lifetime sales. Maybe that’s why the business hasn’t been in a hurry to release GTA 6, especially with growing anticipation for it to be one of the largest games of all time following the success of GTA 5.
