GTA V Enhanced: A Visual Journey Over a Decade

The highly anticipated PC release of Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced, Rockstar's next-generation version of the iconic open-world game, is now available. This enhanced edition offers significant graphical improvements and new features, such as full DualSense controller support, providing an elevated gaming experience for PC players.

Among the standout enhancements are ray-traced reflections, updated vehicle designs, and numerous smaller adjustments that boost the game's visual quality. The popular YouTube channel GameV recently released a side-by-side comparison video, illustrating the evolution of the game's graphics over the last 12 years. The improvements are most noticeable during nighttime scenes, especially in the rain or in dimly lit areas, where advanced global illumination and ray-traced reflections make a significant impact. However, under clear, sunny skies, the differences between the original and enhanced versions are less striking.

Despite a strong launch, with over 187,000 concurrent players on Steam—exceeding the recent peak of 184,000 for the standard edition—the reception has been mixed. Currently, the game holds a 56% positive review rating on Steam. Many players have questioned the need for this update, citing the relatively subtle visual enhancements. There are also reports of issues with DualSense controller functionality and glitches associated with transferring characters from the original GTA Online. While some users have successfully transferred their characters, others are still encountering persistent bugs.