The next-gen upgrade of GTA Online is live and aims to bring graphics and performance up to date for Xbox Series and PS5. However, many players argue about whether they should find the implementation on the already third console generation good – some love it, while others just laugh about it.
What’s going on?
- GTA Online is almost 8.5 years old and with the next-gen upgrade moves to the third console generation
- Developer Rockstar promised better graphics and a few new contents for this
- However, the upgrade is received mixed by players – MeinMMO shows you an excerpt of the first opinions
GTA Online: Strongly mixed opinions about the upgrade
What does the update bring? Although there was also a little new content, overall GTA Online is “only” taking the step to the new consoles with better graphics:
- A resolution up to 4K and up to 60 FPS
- Texture and visibility improvements
- HDR options
- Ray tracing
- Faster loading times
- Immersive 3D audio
- Platform-specific features like improved haptic feedback for PS5 players
More about the contents and the general improvements to the game can be found in our big special on the next-gen upgrade. We are embedding a new trailer with the polished graphics here:
What do players think about it? The upgrade meets with very mixed feelings on its first day. The mega thread on reddit already has over 1,600 comments (15.03.22, 18:30) and they range from:
- Lossantoslegend316: “Everything about this update is awful, haha”
to
- Zero6six6: “I got it for PS5, I got it for free and I damn love it.”
What is being criticized? Many of the top comments in the thread revolve around the loss of the last-gen character when transferring to the new console.
If you want to play your familiar gangster on PS5 or Xbox Series, you have to transfer your save file completely and the “old” character will be deleted.
Since there is no cross-gen play, you can’t mess around in GTA Online with friends who are still on the old consoles PS4 and Xbox One.
- WORMYASH: “Who thought this kind of transfer was a good idea? How am I supposed to play with my friends, for whom it is impossible to get a new console?”
Another point of criticism is that some players hoped for more from the update.
The user “H0vis” asks the group how the improvement of the upgrade is going and gets responses from an Xbox and a PlayStation player:
- PS5 player WarriorNat: “The graphics are better on PS5 and the controls are more sensitive. But the ‘Hao thing’ is just a new mechanic to tune 10 vehicles. Not really new content.”
- Series player ForcedeSupremo: “Yep – the same on Series X. Nicer graphics and controls respond faster. But honestly, it’s the same as before lol.”
Another issue is technical glitches after launch, which developer Rockstar is already working on.
Especially a bug with the character transfer unsettled players because there was a black screen and it wasn’t clear whether the character was safe or not. The bug has mostly been fixed by now.
What is being praised? Some players are also coming forward who are completely satisfied with the upgrade. Even if they are clearly in the minority in the mega thread on reddit.
Ziiner writes, for example: “As someone who has spent hundreds of hours in GTA Online but rarely plays, I am glad that it finally has 60 FPS. That was honestly one of my biggest problems with the game.”
Especially players on PS5 are pleased with the upgrade. For the first three months, GTA Online is available for free as an upgrade and the complete game GTA 5 for €9.99. On Xbox, the online upgrade costs €9.99.
LogicGU on reddit: “The game feels much smoother on PS5. It is absolutely worth the upgrade. Never going back to PS4.”
However, there is also backlash, as some players expected the entire upgrade to come for free.
Is the upgrade worth it? There are a lot of players who hoped for more from the upgrade. And these players are noticeably frustrated. Therefore, it highly depends on what you expect from the next-gen upgrade.
If you occasionally check in on GTA and play for a few hours, then the upgrade may be worth it for you as it visually enhances a fun session in between.
However, if you thought there would be much new to do and GTA Online would experience a big resurgence, then you will be disappointed. It remains the old GTA, just a bit prettier.
Do you have an opinion on the next-gen upgrade? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments.
If you prefer to read more about GTA, then check out our story from MeinMMO author Michael Sonntag: How I Became the Worst Enemy of the Lobby as a Taxi Driver in GTA Online
