Grand Theft Auto 5 on Xbox Series X|S performance targets and details revealed

Grand Theft Auto 5 Xbox Series X S Version Image
Grand Theft Auto 5 Xbox Series X S Version Image (Image credit: Rockstar Games | Twitter)

What you need to know

  • Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the most successful games of all time, and now spans three console generations.
  • On March 15, 2022, the game will be upgraded and enhanced to take full advantage of Xbox Series X|S and PS5 technologies.
  • On Friday, Rockstar Games revealed the performance targets, how to migrate your character progress, and more for GTA V on current-gen consoles.
  • There will be three performance modes to choose from, reaching up to 4K resolution, 60 FPS, and ray-tracing enabled on every console.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is well-known as one of the most popular and successful games of the last decade. Initially released on Xbox 360 and PS3, the game is currently available on the latest generation of consoles in its Xbox One and PS4 upgraded version. Later this month, Rockstar Games is upgrading the title to take advantage of current-gen features and technologies.

GTA 5 on Xbox Series X|S is more than just a glow-up, as there is an abundance of additions and enhancements slated for the upgrade. On Friday, Rockstar Games revealed how GTA V on Xbox Series X|S will work, including performance targets and visual upgrades for current-gen consoles, as well as how players can migrate their progress to the new version.

Here's how Grand Theft Auto 5 will run on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PS5:

  • Performance modes. GTA 5 will feature three performance modes on current-gen consoles, each targeting different resolutions, framerates, and visual fidelity.
    • Fidelity Mode prioritizes visual fidelity, with ray-tracing and up to 4K and 30 FPS on Xbox Series X and PS5, and upscaled 4K and 30 FPS on the Series S
    • Performance Mode prioritizes performance, with upscaled 4K and 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PS5, and 1080p and 60 FPS on the Series S
    • Performance RT mode blends visual fidelity and performance targets, with ray-tracing, upscaled 4K, and 60 FPS on Xbox Series X and PS5. This mode is not featured on Xbox Series S
  • Enhancements and features. The current-gen version of GTA 5 will feature a ton of general enhancements and features over previous versions, including:
    • Improved loading times
    • Increased population and traffic variety
    • Increased vegetation and foliage density
    • Improved lighting quality
    • Improved anti-aliasing and motion blur
    • Improved explosions, fire, and other effects
    • Adaptive Trigger support on PS5
    • Immersive audio support on Xbox Series X|S and PS5
  • GTA Online details. GTA Online is the multiplayer-centric half of GTA 5, and it's also enjoying new features and enhancements in addition to everything detailed above. For the first time, GTA Online will also be available to purchase and download separately on current-gen consoles. Some of the new features include:
    • Hao's Special Works for vehicle upgrades, unique races, and more
    • A new introduction, tutorial, and Career Builder feature to help new players get situated
    • Newly designed main menu to make it easier to browse content

Grand Theft Auto 5 officially arrives on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 on March 15, 2022. Preorders and pre-loading begins one week earlier on March 8. GTA 5 has long been one of the best Xbox games around, and it's about to get even better with this current-gen upgrade.

Starting today, players can now prepare their single-player Story Mode progress with a one-time migration to the new version by navigating to Pause Menu, Game, and Upload Save Option, which uses your Rockstar Games Social Club account. This will keep your save for 90 days, so be sure only to do it when you're ready to migrate. GTA Online players will also be able to migrate all their character progression on March 15 by logging into their Rockstar Games Social Club account on their current-gen console.

Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.