GTA 5 on Xbox Series X: Is it worth upgrading?

GTA 5 on Xbox Series X: Is it worth upgrading? In this article, let’s briefly compare GTA 5 on the Xbox One and the Xbox Series X. Chances are, you already have played GTA 5 on another platform by now. It is a hugely popular game after all. Rockstar re-releasing the game over and over again is really not that appreciated by fans.

If you own an Xbox Series X|S, and you want to decide whether to upgrade, this article may help you.

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GTA 5 on Xbox Series X: Is it worth upgrading?

Is it a free next-gen upgrade?

Unfortunately, unlike games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt which will get a completely free next-gen upgrade on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and even the PC (along with new additions to gameplay and a few new quests) GTA 5‘s next-gen upgrade is not free. If you already owned the game on Xbox One, you can upgrade it for about $10.

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For first-time players

Grand Theft Auto V is a revolutionary game that every gamer and lover of the open-world genre must experience at least once. For first-time Xbox players who want to play the game, it’s available to buy for the Xbox Series X and S for about $40. This includes both the main story and GTA Online, so it might be worth checking out. Here is a link to the game’s Xbox Store page.

It’s optimized and improved for both the Xboxes and it definitely is the way to experience it in the present. Next, let’s discuss why the next-gen version may be worth your time, whether you’re a gamer who previously owned the Xbox 360 or Xbox One versions or a new player who wants to experience the game for the first time.

Improvements in GTA 5 Next-gen versions

As you can see in the image below, the next-gen version looks incredibly detailed. It’s almost as if it was remastered.

The next-gen GTA 5 includes three modes: Fidelity Mode, Performance Mode, and Performance RT Mode. So let’s briefly go over what you can expect from each of the different modes.

Fidelity Mode

  • The maximum possible visual quality.
  • Ray-tracing and and 4K resolutions.
  • 30 FPS

Performance Mode

  • 4K Resolution @60FPS
  • Not as good-looking as Fidelity mode.

Performance RT Mode

  • Balance between Fidelity and Performance Modes.
  • Balanced visual quality
  • 4K Resolution @60FPS + Ray-tracing

Performance RT mode is the best way to play it, in my opinion. 30FPS is a quite painful experience in modern gaming, and 4k 60FPS with Ray-tracing will do great. This mode is only available for Xbox Series X and PS5, though. It is not available for Xbox Series S.

Other Graphics Improvements

  • Higher Vegetation quality and draw distance
  • Enhanced shadows + lighting quality
  • Higher quality water reflections
  • Higher quality Anti-aliasing
  • Higher fidelity graphical effects and physics effects

Verdict

In conclusion, the GTA 5 next-gen version for Xbox Series X is a worthy upgrade for $10. If you can afford it, it’s the best way to experience the game – whether you’re a veteran player or a first-timer.