GTA Trilogy: 5 things you need to know about your return to the 3D Universe

(Icon credit: Rockstar Games)

Information technology's been one of Rockstar's worst-kept secrets of late, but the GTA Trilogy unblock go steady has been revealed, marking our at hand return to GTA 3, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas via the incoming Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Expressed Variation.

20 years have passed since the longstanding crime sim serial outset successful the jump to 3D, and with this latest Pay 'n' Spray key job, IT looks and feels better than ever – with tweaked visuals, controls and in-game menus among many other quality of life improvements heading to Familiarity City, Vice and San An.

Before you make the journey, though, here are five things you need to know about your issue to GTA's 3D Universe.

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When are we going?

As revealed on the 20th anniversary of Grand Theft Auto 3 (October 22), the GTA Trilogy release date is Nov 11, 2021. That's its appendage release, judgement, but the old school among us Greek key non – a physical version likewise lands happening December 7. When information technology does, you can play the GTA Trilogy on Microcomputer, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One or Nintendo Switch. How untold will it cost? $60/£55 crosswise all platforms. Information technology's also worth noting that the GTA San Andreas Distinct Variant leave make up available on Xbox Games Pass from day united.

What you lookin' at?

As seen in the above trailer, a whole cargo of visual improvements are breaching the shores of Liberty Urban center, Vice City and San Andreas. These come courtesy of a answer elevate, a rebuilt ignition system, and reworked character and vehicle models, to figure merely a few nips and tucks fashioning their way into the game.

That's all future day alongside developed dynamic weather aesthetics, sharper shadows, clearer reflections, and an increased draw distance that will see Portland Harbour looking more like a shot from The Wire than Silent Hill. These games might be two decades old, but Rockstar is putting in the work to make them look and feel as beneficial A they can comprise.

Taking control

How all game's protagonists Claude, Tommy, and Carl handle themselves, or rather how you handle them, has been improved this clock around too. I can't tell you how many multiplication I missed the label during GTA 3's sniper mission, 'Bomb Da Base II', and I blessed that wholeheartedly on shady controls. Whether that's the case or not is up for argumentation, I've no excuse this time close to because the GTA Trilogy wish utilise "new GTA 5-inspired modern controls", which should directly affect targeting, driving, and superior general navigation around each map out. The former is presumptive where this leave fool the biggest improvement, peculiarly when applied to cycling through hordes of forward enemies – which every three games have plenty of, in the absence of respectable cover-shooting.

Planning the route

That last part will make a bigger difference than you think. In the wake of the GTA Trilogy announcement, I discharged awake GTA 3 to reacquaint myself with old school Liberty Metropolis, A a means of better appreciating its imminent face lift, and could not believe how difficult impulsive is compared to GTA 5 and GTA Online. Non only do cars handle like tanks, there's no sat-nav inspired mini-maps, meaning I spent inordinate amounts of time circling destinations trying to observe the exact alleyway I was prospective to turn down. Further to this, Rockstar promises updated weapon and radio wheels, also as Gyro aiming for the Nintendo Switch variation.

Who's behind information technology?

GTA San Andreas — (Image credit: Rockstar)

Workings alongside Rockstar North, Grove Street Games (known equally War Drum Studios once upon a time) is developing the GTA Trilogy in Nonmaterial Engine. Over the survive decade, the studio has specialised in porting games to mobile devices and has done indeed for Rockstar along many occasions – with the likes of GTA: Chinatown Wars, GTA 3, GTA: Vice Urban center, GTA: San Andreas, Max Payne, and Bully all organism ported to iOS and/or Humanoid.

GTA 6 is without an official release date, just that hasn't stopped up us gathering everything we know about the upcoming crime sim.

Joe is a Features Writer at GamesRadar+. With over five years of experience working in specialist print and online fourth estate, Joe has written for a number of gaming, fun and entertainment publications including PC Gamer, Edge, Play and FourFourTwo. He is substantially-versed in all things Grand larceny Auto and spends much of his spare time swapping real-world Glasgow for GTA Online's Los Santos. Joe is besides a mental health advocate and has written a book active video games, intellectual health and their tangled intersections. He is a regular expert subscriber on both subjects for BBC radio. Many an moons ago, he was a fully-qualified plumber which basically makes him Superintendent Mario.