GTA 5 PS4 vs PS5 - Differences, graphics, features, release date and what the next-gen upgrade will bring?

GTA 5 is a stone-cold classic. Beloved by its millions of fans, many are eagerly anticipating its re-release on the PS5, as confirmed by Strauss Zelnick in an interview earlier this year. Scheduled to drop later in 2021, the GTA 5 Expanded and Enhanced version won't just be a simple port.

Oh no. It will be remastered to be fully optimised for the PS5. But what might that look like, and how different could it be from the PS4 version (itself remastered after the original came out on PS3 in 2013)? We will look at what we know so far, to whet your appetite for what's to come, later this year.

GTA 5 PS5 release date

The next-gen version of GTA 5 was expected to launch on 11 November 2021 for both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, as announced in a Rockstar blog post. However, release was postponed until MArch 15th, 2022. This will be the third console generation to receive a version of GTA 5.

Of course, many players may be hotly anticipating an announcement of GTA 6 for the PS5 soon, but be warned. This doesn't appear to be coming anytime in the near future.

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GTA 5 PS5 vs PS4 differences

One of the key differences between the PS4 and PS5 versions of GTA 5 is expected to be in the raft of improvements that might not be immediately apparent. Technical improvements, visual upgrades and performance enhancements have all been mentioned by Rockstar. But exactly what this means, and what it translates into, is less certain.

In the trailer for the release, Rockstar describes the upcoming version of the game as expanded and enhanced. Expanded would point to new content in comparison to what was available before.

GTA 5 PS5 graphics

We can probably expect Rockstar to enable to the game to run at 60fps, and run more akin to the PC version which runs on high-end hardware. Remastering is likely to lead to better visuals and smoother performance, but we will need to wait for further details. GTA 5 will utilise the RAGE engine that Rockstar used in Red Dead Redemption 2.

This could lead to features such as physically based rendering, fog values, pre-calculated global illumination, and volumetric clouds. Summary: a more detailed, more realistic, more beautiful game.

Most importantly, it's been revealed that GTA V on PlayStation 5 will benefit from 4K resolution at 60fps. Compared to the 1080p, 30fps nature of the PS4 game, this is a massive plus. Xbox Series X players will likely see the same boost.

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GTA 5 PS5 Features

There are a few features which we might be a little more sure of.

• New weapons, new vehicles and new activities all seem likely
• Heavier traffic, because the new console will be able to cope with more detailed environments
• We can also expect enhanced weather and damage effects

Indeed, Rockstar has shared more details about some exclusive next-gen features. Rockstar's Twitter account shared a post explaining that some GTA vehicles "will be upgradable with all new speed improvements", which will "be available only on the Series X/S versions of GTAV".

Additionally, Sony has confirmed some bonus extras for keen players of the game. GTA Online will enjoy exclusive content. There will also be a standalone version of GTA Online, which will be available for free exclusively to PS5 users during the first 3 months. And finally, as an extra bonus, PlayStation Plus members can get an extra $1,000,000 on GTA Online every month that they play the game until the PS5 version is released. For free.

Rockstar has also announced that it has "even more fun surprises to share" in celebration of GTA III's 20-year anniversary coming later this year, including some specific to GTA Online.

There will certainly be plenty more information coming our way as the release date draws nearer. We can't wait to see what else the creative minds at Rockstar have in store for us.

READ MORE:GTA V to get player-created loading fix

Update: GTA V - all PS5 vs PS4 Differences

Now that the PS5 version of GTA V is finally with us, we can finally see exactly what the differences are between the two versions of the game.

The most overt differences are graphical. Most importantly, the PS5 version of the game comes with 3 different graphics modes. The PS4 version for reference, offered 1080p at 30fps. On the PS5, you can enjoy Fidelity mode, which offers 4k visuals at 30fps. Or, you can go for Performance mode, which gives you 60fps. Or Performance RT, which combines these two modes, to give you upscaled 4K resolution with ray tracing, at around 60fps.

Alongside ray tracing, the PS5 version offers upgraded textures and draw distance, improved lighting, more densely populated environments, and improved water reflections. There is more detail in fires and explosions as well. There will even be more foliage.

Unlike the PS4 version, you'll also enjoy HDR support, 3D audio support, and enhanced gameplay and controls. The DualSense controller offers superior haptic feedback. And last, but by no means least, loading times have been substantially reduced. According to VGC, it now takes less than 30 seconds to load the game (compared to over 90 seconds on PS4). Likewise, switching characters happens in as little as six seconds.

GTA Online

GTA Online has also seen some big upgrades. As well as being a standalone title, it offers many of the same graphical and performance improvements as the main game. This includes upgraded textures, ray tracing, HDR support, 3D support, and improved controls. You get the improved haptic feedback on the DualSense controller. The main menu has changed, in part reflecting the fact that it is now a standalone title.

There's also a new game mode: Hao's Special Works, which offer new 'best-in-class' customisations, Time Trial events and a Premium Test Ride feature, which allows you to test newly modded vehicles for free.

And finally, there's a new Career Builder feature. It's primarily aimed at players who are new to the world of GTA Online, but it is available for anyone starting over. To help you on your way, players are gifted $4m GTA dollars, a vehicle, a property, and a weapon with which to begin their journey.

GTA Online is available on PS5 for free from launch until June 14th, 2022. GTA V has also been heavily discounted for the first 3 months from launch, costing just $9.99/£8.75 if you buy before June 14th. So if you're tempted to visit, or revisit, a classic game, there's no better time to do it. And as we've said before, you're going to be waiting a while for GTA 6.