Update (10/08/21, 12:28 PM ET) - The Rockstar Games website was absolutely hammered due to the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy: - The Definitive Edition. It's back up now and we've learned more details.
Firstly (and most importantly), Rockstar Games will be removing the digital versions of the games from online storefronts next week. If you haven't yet picked them up, you're going to want to buy them now.
On the upside, the Grand Theft Auto remastered trilogy will be available pretty much everywhere once it launches: Rockstar Games has confirmed that the game will be coming to PC (via the Rockstar Launcher), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Android, and iOS. Additionally, the trilogy will be launching on Nintendo Switch -- a first for the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
The final interesting point of note in today's Rockstar Newswire post reveals that these aren't simply graphical overhauls: the gameplay will be getting some improvements, too.
"Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition will feature across-the-board upgrades including graphical improvements and modern gameplay enhancements for all three titles, while still maintaining the classic look and feel of the originals," read the announcement.
Our original story continues below.
The days of begging Rockstar Games for a remaster are over: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy: - The Definitive Edition has officially been announced and will be coming soon.
Late last month, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition was rated in Korea. That's typically a good sign that a game has actually been made and will be announced within a few weeks.
A few weeks later, a recent update to the Rockstar Launcher was datamined and several references to a Grand Theft Auto remastered trilogy were discovered in the code. Aside from some shiny new icons, the data discovered in this update also indicated that these three remakes of classic open-world games were being made in the Unreal Engine.
Now, Rockstar Games has officially made the announcement and revealed its next game to the world: the three Grand Theft Auto games of the 3D era are coming back -- and they're gonna be better than ever. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition will contain within it Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) October 8, 2021
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition Celebrates GTA 3's 20th Anniversary
The Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition announcement was made in a tweet by Rockstar Games in its characteristically chill style. A video with soft jazz music played while showing silhouettes of the cover girls from the three games of the 3D era. The above video was followed by a short message from Rockstar Games with more details.
"Later this month marks a very special anniversary for Rockstar Games: 20 years since the original release of Grand Theft Auto III," read the Twitter thread from Rockstar Games. "In addition to carving a new path for the [open-world] genre, Grand Theft Auto III established Grand Theft Auto as a cultural phenomenon, alongside its two subsequent — and equally legendary — entries in the series, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."
"We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Grand Theft Auto fans who have supported the games over the past two decades."
Aside from these heartfelt words, Rockstar Games will also be doing something a little special for the millions of people who bought GTA 5 and enjoy playing it online: as Game Informer reports, a bunch of cool content will be making its way to GTA Online in the coming weeks and months including commemorative clothing and liveries for vehicles.
"We’ll have more details on how to acquire these in the weeks ahead as part of our ongoing events in GTA Online," read a press release from Rockstar Games. "This month’s GTA Online events will have some special surprises [--] including the possibility of some unusual activity occurring in and around Southern San Andreas."
When is the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition Release Date?
Unfortunately, the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition release date has not yet been revealed. The video officially confirming the remastered trilogy simply states "Coming Soon." A price has not yet been announced, either.
Hopefully, we'll be able to head back into the cities of the 3D era sooner rather than later. Don't get your hopes up just yet, though -- longtime fans know that Rockstar Games has no problem delaying its upcoming releases. In the meantime, don't forget to buy the original games on PC or consoles if you haven't grabbed them already -- Rockstar Games is removing these versions from digital storefronts next week.
Are you excited about the announcement of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition? What's your favorite game in the 3D era trilogy? Let us know in the comments below!
