GTA V Enhanced: A Visual Journey Over a Decade

The much-anticipated PC release of Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced, Rockstar's next-generation update of the iconic open-world game, is now available. This enhanced version introduces significant graphical upgrades and new features, including full DualSense controller support, providing an enriched experience for PC gamers.

Among the standout enhancements are ray-traced reflections, revamped vehicle designs, and numerous smaller tweaks that significantly boost the game's visual quality. The popular YouTube channel GameV recently released a side-by-side comparison video, illustrating the graphical evolution from the original release over the past 12 years. The improvements are most noticeable during rainy nights or in shadowy areas, where advanced global illumination and ray-traced reflections truly stand out. However, under sunny conditions, the differences between the base game and its enhanced version are less distinct.

Despite a strong launch, with over 187,000 concurrent players on Steam—surpassing 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 users have questioned the necessity of this update, citing the relatively subtle visual improvements. Additional criticisms include issues with DualSense functionality and glitches related to transferring characters from the original GTA Online. While some players have reported successful transfers, others continue to encounter persistent bugs.