Let’s be real for a second. We’ve been playing this game since 2013. That is over a decade of stealing cars, flying Oppressors, and watching Michael De Santa have a mid-life crisis. When Rockstar Games announced GTA V for next gen consoles—specifically the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S—the internet collectively rolled its eyes. "Another port?" people asked. "Really?"
Yet, here we are. People are still buying it.
The reality is that GTA V for next gen isn't just a simple resolution bump. It’s a weird, polished, and sometimes frustrating beast that bridges the gap between the old Rockstar and whatever GTA VI is going to be. If you’re jumping in from a PS4 or an Xbox One, the difference is actually jarring. Not because the textures are suddenly life-like—they aren't—but because the game finally runs the way it was always supposed to.
The 60 FPS Revelation
Frames matter. For years, console players were stuck at a chugging 30 frames per second. In a fast-paced shooter/driver hybrid, that’s basically like playing underwater. The biggest sell for GTA V for next gen is the Performance Mode. It hits a smooth 60 FPS.
It changes everything.
Driving down Vinewood Boulevard at night feels responsive. The input lag is gone. You can actually aim during a drive-by without fighting the analog sticks. There's also a Fidelity Mode for the 4K purists, but honestly? Don't bother. The 30 FPS hit you take for a bit of extra ray-traced shadow detail just isn't a fair trade. Most players stick to Performance RT, which tries to give you the best of both worlds—60 FPS with some scaled-back ray tracing.
It’s not perfect. You’ll still see some pop-in. Shadows might flicker under the harsh Los Santos sun. But compared to the grainy, stuttering mess of the last generation, it's night and day.
What They Actually Changed (And What They Didn't)
Rockstar didn't just unlock the framerate and call it a day. They touched up the lighting engine. The fire effects look better. Explosions have more "oomph" to them. If you’re on PS5, the DualSense controller support is actually one of the cooler, albeit smaller, additions. You feel the grit of the road through the haptic feedback. The adaptive triggers resist you when you're braking or pulling the trigger on a heavy weapon. It's immersive. It's tactile.
But let's talk about the textures.
This is still a game built for the PlayStation 3. You can see it in the character models' fingers. You see it in the low-res bushes in the hills of Blaine County. No amount of 4K upscaling can hide the fact that these assets were designed during the Obama administration.
The "Expanded & Enhanced" moniker was a bit of a stretch. We didn't get new single-player story content. There are no new heists for Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. If you were hoping for a Liberty City expansion or a reason to care about the story again, you’re out of luck. This version exists primarily to funnel people into GTA Online.
The GTA Online Ecosystem
The standalone version of GTA Online is where the real "next gen" meat is. Rockstar introduced Hao’s Special Works (HSW). These are high-performance vehicle upgrades exclusive to the newer consoles. We’re talking speeds that would have crashed the engine on an Xbox One.
The Career Builder is another massive win. If you’re a new player, you get 4 million in-game dollars to start your criminal empire. You pick a path—Executive, Gunrunner, Nightclub Owner, or Biker—and the game gives you the tools to start making money immediately. It skips the hundreds of hours of grinding that used to define the early game.
It’s a smart move. It keeps the player base fresh.
Loading Times: The Real Hero
Remember the clouds? Those infinite loading screens where you’d sit for three minutes just to join a lobby, only to get disconnected and wait another three minutes?
That’s over.
Thanks to the SSDs in the PS5 and Series X, GTA V for next gen loads in seconds. You can go from the dashboard to the streets of Los Santos in about 30 seconds. Switching between characters in single-player—which used to take long enough to go grab a snack—is now nearly instantaneous. This, more than the graphics, is why it’s hard to go back to the old versions. It respects your time.
The Elephant in the Room: The Price
Rockstar took some heat for charging for this upgrade. Many developers offered free next-gen patches. Rockstar didn't. Depending on when you caught the launch window, you either got it for "free" (on PS Plus) or paid a discounted $10 to $20. Now, it’s back to a more standard pricing model.
Is it worth paying for a third time?
If you play GTA Online daily, yes. The HSW upgrades and the smoother framerate are essential for staying competitive. If you’re a casual player who just wants to play the story again, maybe wait for a deep sale. The story is the same. The jokes are the same. Even the radio stations, while still iconic, feel a little dated in 2026.
The Technical Reality Check
Let's look at the actual specs.
- Fidelity Mode: Native 4K, ray tracing, 30 FPS.
- Performance Mode: Upscaled 4K (usually around 1440p internal), 60 FPS.
- Performance RT: Dynamic resolution, ray tracing, 60 FPS target.
In my experience, Performance RT is the sweet spot. You get the reflections on the rainy pavement and the chrome of your Pfister Comet, but you don't lose the fluidity. However, in heavy combat—especially in 30-player lobbies—you will see drops. The game isn't magically locked. The engine is old, and it struggles with the sheer amount of chaos players can cause in the open world.
Misconceptions About the "Next Gen" Tag
A lot of people think "Next Gen" means a total remake. It doesn't. This isn't The Last of Us Part I or Resident Evil 4. This is a remaster. A very good remaster, but a remaster nonetheless.
There were rumors of a "Yellow Jack" DLC or a map expansion to Cayo Perico in free-roam. None of that happened. Rockstar’s focus is clearly shifted toward the next entry in the series. This version of GTA V is essentially the "Final Form" of the game. It’s the version that will be preserved for the next decade until the hardware evolves again.
Why People Keep Coming Back
It’s the physics. Nothing else feels like GTA. The way a car deforms when you hit a pole, or the way a pedestrian reacts when you nudge them—it’s still industry-leading. Even "modern" games like Cyberpunk 2077 struggled to match the systemic complexity of Los Santos.
There’s a comfort in it. You know exactly how the world works.
Practical Steps for New and Returning Players
If you're jumping into GTA V for next gen right now, don't just wander around. The game is too big for that.
First, migrate your character. You can do a one-time migration from your old social club account. Be warned: this moves your character off the old console. If your friends are still on PS4 and you move to PS5, you can't play together anymore. This is a huge pain point for many crews. Coordinate with your friends before you hit that "confirm" button.
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Second, if you're starting fresh, use the Career Builder for the Nightclub. It's the best passive income in the game once you link it to other businesses. Don't waste your starting cash on supercars. Buy the tools to make more money first.
Third, go into the settings and turn on "Expanded Radar" and adjust your "Deadzone" for the controllers. The default settings for the next-gen versions are a bit "floaty." Tightening up the stick response makes the 60 FPS feel even better.
Finally, check out the new motion blur settings. The next-gen version allows you to toggle this. Some people hate it, but at 60 FPS, a little bit of motion blur actually helps hide some of the older animations and makes the world feel more cinematic.
The sun is setting on GTA V. With the next game on the horizon, this next-gen port is the definitive way to see out the era. It's not a revolution. It's a victory lap. Whether you choose to run it depends entirely on how much you still love the smell of virtual gasoline and the chaos of the Diamond Casino.
To get the most out of the experience, prioritize the Performance RT mode and make sure your HDR settings are calibrated correctly in the main menu; otherwise, the night scenes can look washed out. If you're a returning player, check your Rockstar Games Social Club for any legacy rewards that might have been added to your account during the transition period.