GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition Gets Surprise Upgrade on Consoles, Adding Classic Lighting Option From Mobile Version Two Years Later

Would you believe that it’s been over two years since Rockstar Games released a new update for GTA Trilogy Definitive Editions? Yeah, me neither, and yet that was the surprise waiting for me this morning. While the publisher hasn’t yet confirmed what it does, we can confirm that it has finally added one of the most requested visual features that were exclusive to the mobile versions of the games. 

GTA Trilogy Definite Edition on Console Now Look Closer to the Original Releases

When the mobile versions of GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition were released nearly a year ago, one of the biggest differences was that all three ports in the collection featured a new lighting system called “classic lighting.” As one could expect from the name, the classic lighting option overhauled the games’ lighting to bring it closer to the original PS2 releases. 

Mind you, it wasn’t a 1:1 recreation of the original lighting used. However, as evident in the Digital Foundry breakdown, the classic lighting system option provided a massive improvement over what many considered flat and lifeless visuals the original collection shipped with.

Sadly, and strangely, this update never left the mobile platforms, leaving PC and console gamers with the game’s originally shipped lighting.

Well, all that changed today, as the newest title updates for each title in the trilogy have added the new classic lighting system to each game, finally bringing one of the most requested features that fans have had to consoles. I took a couple of screenshots from the PS5 version to compare and show the differences.

The update only appears to be for next-gen consoles and PC, as the option is still absent from the PS4 version. There’s no reason last-gen versions shouldn’t get the update, too, though, given how long it took to even get this option; who knows?

Regardless, this is spectacular news for all fans and a rather big surprise, considering that Rockstar hasn’t touched any of the console titles for almost two years now. The last update released on consoles was in October 2022, a minor one addressing performance and stability in all three titles. 

The mobile version, however, has been receiving constant updates, with the latest being in July 2024. Chances are, the new console update also includes several fixes and improvements that have already made their way into the mobile versions over the last few years. However, we did notice that in GTA 3, Claude is still missing gestures and reactions to things, such as staring back at people chasing him or reacting to a car almost hitting him, which was in the original release and the mobile version. So, while this update probably has more improvements hidden away, don’t go in expecting everything that the mobile versions added to be included.

We’ll keep tabs to see if Rockstar Games even acknowledges the new updates, but for those who were holding off, hoping to see the classic lighting option come to console in order to play, well, now is your chance to finally experience the upgraded releases. Assuming of course, that other areas have been addressed with these updates. 

More GTA Reading:

• Take-Two Boss “Not Worried” About GTA 6 Performance on Xbox Series S
• GTA 5 Sales Now at 205 Million; GTA 6 Still on Track for “Fall of Calendar 2025” Release
• Ex-GTA 4 Tech Director Guesses GTA 6 PC Version Won’t Be Out ‘Til 2027; Thinks GTA 6 Will Sell for 10+ Years

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