Rockstar Reportedly Developing Grand Theft Auto Remasters

By M. Kang

Posted on August 14, 2021

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GTA fans have a lot of reason to be excited as Kotaku reports that developers Rockstar Games are remastering PlayStation 2-era classics Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.

These remasters were expected to release earlier, but the pandemic reportedly affected Rockstar Games’ plans. First, the games were planned as “bonus” for those who purchase the next-generation upgrades for Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online. It was then expected to release, before finally landing on an expected holiday launch window.

The remasters are expected to go to all current and next-generation Xbox and PlayStation systems, as well as PC, Stadia, and mobile. Perhaps most surprising, the remasters are expected to make their way to the Nintendo Switch, the first time these three titles would be on a Nintendo console.

The games are currently being developed by a Rockstar subsidiary, Rockstar Dundee, who is also helping with Grand Theft Auto 5 ports to the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

The games are currently being remastered using Unreal Engine, combining new and old graphics, and is described as looking as “a heavily-modded version of a classic GTA title.” Although other elements, like the UI for the game, are also being updated, the design philosophy Rockstar Dundee is taking is largely “stay[ing] true to the PS2-era GTA games as much as possible.

Kotaku sources also apparently say that the success of these remasters could lead to more remasters, like one of the original Red Dead Redemption.