The release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition led to Rockstar removing the original versions of the games from digital stores, and many players are questioning the decision. When the GTA Trilogy was revealed, many fans were excited to jump back into the classic adventures from the early 2000s that would surely be optimized for modern consoles. The end product hasn’t been as smooth as many were hoping for, suffering from a myriad of technical issues and causing backlash among Grand Theft Auto fans returning to the titles or playing them for the first time.
Corresponding with the release of the GTA Trilogy, Rockstar pulled the original versions of GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas from digital stores across all platforms. While Rockstar hasn’t given an official reason behind pulling these original versions of each game, the assumption is that the studio anticipated the remastered versions in the GTA Trilogy to replace the older versions in a way that would render them obsolete. Seeing how well remasters like the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition have been well-received among fans in 2021, it’s easy to see how Rockstar could feel driven to make such a decision and rely on the newer versions of the GTA Trilogy to offer the best experience.
Making the decision to pull the original versions of these three GTA titles hasn’t gone over well with fans, considering how much of a mess the GTA Trilogy remake has been since release. The new versions of the classic games are riddled with bugs and missing features like the popular OJ cam, and many players are unhappy with the “improved” character models across all three games that make certain characters hard to look at. Players looking for the original experience in lieu of the GTA Trilogy disaster have no other versions to turn to now, leaving them with the choice to play the troublesome remasters or not playing the older GTA titles at all.
Rockstar Removing The Original GTA Trilogy Games Is Bad For Business
The problem with Rockstar pulling the original versions of the GTA Trilogy games from digital stores is the fact that there’s absolutely no way for players to access these specific versions of the game unless they have them downloaded onto their specific gaming platform. It’s not similar to physical copies being taken out of production, as there’s likely someone selling a copy of the game on eBay or another online site that allows players to get their hands on the game. Similar to Hideo Kojima’s P.T., the original GTA versions will likely be a rarity amongst gamers after Rockstar’s decision, with many wishing they could access the older ports of the games outside of physical copies for older consoles.
To try and combat the irritation amongst fans about the decision, Rockstar recently announced that the original versions of the three GTA games included in the trilogy would be available for individual purchase through the Rockstar store on PC. Ultimately, this announcement only works as partial amends for fans, as those with consoles still won’t have access to the older versions of the games. Rockstar seems to be alienating their console supporters with this decision, leaving many loyal fans on Xbox and PlayStation waiting for Rockstar and Grove Street Games to fix all of the issues in the GTA Trilogy so they can be properly enjoyed.
The entire situation has been handled poorly from the start, with Rockstar seemingly growing overconfident in the quality of the GTA Trilogy’s remakes and pulling the original versions before seeing how the collection was accepted amongst fans. This decision continues to put Rockstar at its lowest point in years, adding to the backlash over the many GTA V re-releases and disappointment in Red Dead Redemption 2 online. Hopefully, Rockstar will completely change course and release the original versions back onto all digital platforms to satisfy fans until the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition can be properly fixed.