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GTA The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition key art showing three women in the style of the series’ classic covers.

GTA The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition: announcement, date and upgrades

Rockstar announced remasters of GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas for GTA III’s 20th anniversary: out November 11, 2021, with GTA V-style controls.

This article is from October 8, 2021. Some details may have changed since then.

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On October 8, 2021, two weeks before GTA III's 20th anniversary, Rockstar confirmed Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition: GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas upgraded for that generation's consoles and PC. On October 22, the release date, the first trailer and the list of upgrades followed.

Release date and platforms

Format

Platforms

Date

Digital

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC (Rockstar Games Launcher)

November 11, 2021

Physical

Consoles

December 7, 2021

Mobile

iOS and Android

First half of 2022 (it eventually arrived in December 2023, via Netflix)

San Andreas also joined Xbox Game Pass on November 11, and GTA III joined PlayStation Now on December 7.

What changes from the originals

  • GTA V-style controls: lock-on aiming, weapon and radio wheels, and map waypoints.
  • Reworked visuals: new lighting, higher-resolution textures, new foliage and longer draw distances, keeping the original look.
  • Switch: gyro aiming and touch controls. PC: NVIDIA DLSS.
  • Adapted by Grove Street Games using Unreal Engine.
A Liberty City elevated train in GTA III – The Definitive Edition passing a bridge at sunset.

Goodbye to the classic versions

The controversial part: starting the following week, the original versions would be pulled from digital stores. Anyone wanting the classics digitally would have to buy the Definitive Edition. After launch, Rockstar ended up bringing the PC classics back to its store.

Also in the announcement

The October post also teased GTA Online news: a rotation of Rockstar-created Jobs and a December update featuring “familiar faces” — which turned out to be The Contract. Alongside the release date, Rockstar gave away a Baseball Bat Tee in GTA Online.

Our take

On paper it was the perfect anniversary gift: three classics with modern controls on every platform. With the originals delisted, though, the Definitive Edition had to deliver — and the launch showed it didn't.