Rockstar revealed during the PlayStation Showcase that Grand Theft Auto V has been delayed on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The current-gen ports were initially meant to be released on November 11, but they have been pushed back to March 2022.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is currently playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S through backward compatibility, but the game doesn't make the most of the hardware of the new systems. The first-ever PS5 event opened with GTA 5, even though the game launched on the PS3. The sales power of Rockstar's epic can't be understated, which is why fans have eagerly awaited a fresh coat of paint and faster load times for the game.
The September 2021 PlayStation Showcase featured a segment focusing on the upgrades that will be present in the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of GTA 5, including polished visuals and seamless character switching. The segment ended with some sad news, as the current-gen ports of GTA 5 have been delayed to March 2022, with no concrete date given. The upcoming standalone version of GTA Online has also been delayed and pushed back to next year.
The trailer has also yet to confirm whether GTA 5 will be a free upgrade, a paid upgrade, or an independent release. It's unlikely to be totally free, as this is something that would likely have been revealed early on. The best the fans can hope for is a cheap upgrade for people who already own the PS4 or Xbox One versions of the game, but it wouldn't be surprising if the current-gen ports were full-price releases. The incredible popularity of GTA 5 means that lots of people would pay full price for the game again, and Rockstar knows this.
The quality of GTA 5 has defied console generations, which is why it still has a massive player base to this day. It's a shame that the current-gen versions of the game have been delayed, but the PS4 and Xbox One versions are perfectly fine and should be enough to tide fans over. Then again, that seamless character switching was a sight to behold, and those who have stared at loading screens since GTA 5 and GTA Online's PS3 and Xbox 360 releases may have a hard time going back.
Grand Theft Auto V is available on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, and it will launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in March 2022.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube