GTA V Enhanced: A Visual Journey Over a Decade

The much-anticipated PC release of Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced, Rockstar's next-generation update of the iconic open-world game, is finally here. This revamped version offers PC gamers a host of significant graphical upgrades and new features, including full DualSense controller support, providing an enriched gaming experience.

Among the standout enhancements are ray-traced reflections, revamped vehicle designs, and numerous smaller tweaks that significantly boost the visual fidelity. The popular YouTube channel GameV recently released a side-by-side comparison, illustrating the evolution of the game's graphics over the past 12 years. The improvements are particularly striking during rainy nights or in shadowy areas, where advanced global illumination and ray-traced reflections truly come to life. However, under sunny conditions, the differences between the original and enhanced versions are less noticeable.

Despite a strong launch, with over 187,000 concurrent players on Steam—surpassing the recent peak of 184,000 for the standard edition—the reception has been mixed. Currently, the game holds a 56% positive review rating on Steam. Many players are questioning the need for this update, citing the relatively subtle visual enhancements. Additionally, there have been complaints about issues with DualSense functionality and glitches associated with transferring characters from the original GTA Online. While some players have reported successful transfers, others continue to struggle with persistent bugs.