With the release of the brand new PC version of GTA V and GTA Online titled GTA V Enhanced, there are some big takeaways in relation to GTA 6. From the brand new ray traced global illumination (RTGI) system to a few issues, experts have weighed in on this latest re-release of GTA V.
Well-respected content creators Digital Foundry took an in-depth look into GTA V Enhanced on PC. In a new video, host Alex explains why is a big deal and how it relates to GTA 6. Rockstar likely brought their system made for the new game into GTA V Enhanced.
RTGI significantly improves the visuals of GTA V. It turns the blue-ish/grey look in shaded areas into something closer to real life. The dull shade is gone and replaced with more accurate looking, light-bounced areas. This is particularly noticeable when you’re outside in sunny weather, as seen below.
Yellow and orange glow from the sun properly shades various areas. Detail lost in the shadows on props and buildings can now be seen. It is quite a remarkable improvement. Whole buildings and areas of Southern San Andreas now look better. There has not been a bigger change in GTA V’s graphics since the game came out.
Feature From GTA 6?
RTGI is only available on the new version of GTA V for PC. It is not found on the current gen consoles. Given how well it works, plenty of effort was made in the development of this system. Alex from Digital Foundry speculates that this RTGI is a version being backported from GTA 6.
We can see RTGI in the first trailer and is one of the reasons why the game looks great. The game has been made with it in mind. We can’t play the game for ourselves yet though. Meanwhile, we are able to play GTA V Enhanced with this RTGI solution right now and as we’ve seen it looks great.
The RTGI tech used by Rockstar in GTA V Enhanced applies to all light sources. This is something RTGI does not do in The Witcher 3 or Dying Light 2. On top of that, emissive textures actually have proper light now. Without it enabled, textures like the one below lack real lighting whereas RTGI has all of the colours glowing onto the wall. This is how it is meant to look.
The differences between solutions means Rockstar really tried here. It’s quite a bit of investment just for one singular platform this late in the game’s life cycle. It does not make a ton of sense if they did.
Alex goes to discuss performance. The new ray traced options are surprisingly performant on the GPU. He notes this bodes well for GTA 6. However, they are somewhat taxing on the CPU. When testing a CPU that is similar to a PS5, the frame rate is a sub-60FPS experience for the most part. This is a game that’s over a decade old with far less graphical detail and worse AI than what GTA 6 will have.
Digital Foundry has mentioned several times now the chance of GTA 6 being 60FPS on PS5 is not really grounded. The expectation is GTA 6 will be 30FPS on consoles. Alex said it is simply not likely going to run at 60FPS especially given the trailer was in 30FPS. If you want to play GTA 6 at 60FPS, you’ll have to wait for the PC launch in 2026 or 2027.
You can view Alex’s full video here which is a recommended viewing. What do you think GTA V Enhanced and these new graphics options? Let us know down in the comments below.
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