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This Is Why GTA V On PC Arrives After Console

By - Source: Rockstar Games | B 49 comments

Last week, Rockstar Games announced the ship date of Grand Theft Auto V, which will arrive on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on November 18, 2014. The PC version will not arrive until January 27, 2015, giving the console owners a head start. Why? Because Rockstar needs the extra time to spit-polish the PC version.

"We're glad to see so many of you are excited for the upcoming release of the new versions of GTAV and we look forward to sharing more details with you soon," the studio said. "We are also incredibly excited to be bringing GTAV to the PC, but the game requires a little more development time in order to ensure that it is as amazing and polished as possible. Please do stay tuned as we reveal new features and information about all the new versions in the weeks ahead."

As previously reported, GTAV will have a higher resolution than the previous chapter as well as an increased draw distance, denser traffic, a new foliage system, advanced weather and damage effects, new activities, new vehicles, new weapons and more. Over 100 additional new songs will be on the radio, as will new DJ mixes.

Gamers returning from the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles will see exclusive content such as rare versions of classic vehicles including the Dukes, the Dodo Seaplane and a faster Blimp. There will also be new shooting range challenges, new weapons, wildlife photography and more.

Grand Theft Auto Online will also receive "enhancements" including an increased player count of 30 players on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 version (expect more for the PC copy). The company's PR also added that existing gameplay upgrades and Rockstar-created content provided since the launch of Grand Theft Auto Online will be made available for all three platforms.

"All players who pre-order the game will get $1,000,000 in-game bonus cash to spend across Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online (GTA $500K each for your Story Mode and for your GTA Online in-game bank accounts)," the studio's press release said.

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Top Comments
  • 34 Hide
    RCguitarist , September 15, 2014 1:43 PM
    I work in the marketing and advertising industry and I'll tell you that is a BS answer. They are delaying it to maximize console sales. That is what their investors want and they were instructed to make something up to appease the pc gamers. Plain and simple. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if GTA V ends up running as clunky on PC as GTA 4 does.

    And is it weird that I can tell which articles are written by Kevin Parrish just by reading the title on the main page of Tom's. I can't do that with any of the other writers, but I can always spot a Kevin. Something about his writing makes it stand out from the others but I can't quite put my finger on the reason why.
  • 20 Hide
    Devoteicon , September 15, 2014 2:07 PM
    I can't wait to pair my R9 295X2 with this and enjoy my ~30fps.
  • 10 Hide
    heero yuy , September 15, 2014 3:48 PM
    and then the game comes out and the port is a PoS
Other Comments
    Add your comment Display all 49 comments.
  • -6 Hide
    derekullo , September 15, 2014 1:25 PM
    Release dates for Grand Theft Auto 4 copy pasted from wikipedia

    Release date for PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360
    29 April 2008

    Microsoft Windows
    NA 2 December 2008

    April - December was 9 months to "spit-polish" Grand Theft Auto 4 for PC

    They must have hired much better coders to be able to "spit-polish" Grand Theft Auto 5 in 3 months
  • -3 Hide
    redgarl , September 15, 2014 1:25 PM
    It's a joke right...?
  • 34 Hide
    RCguitarist , September 15, 2014 1:43 PM
    I work in the marketing and advertising industry and I'll tell you that is a BS answer. They are delaying it to maximize console sales. That is what their investors want and they were instructed to make something up to appease the pc gamers. Plain and simple. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if GTA V ends up running as clunky on PC as GTA 4 does.

    And is it weird that I can tell which articles are written by Kevin Parrish just by reading the title on the main page of Tom's. I can't do that with any of the other writers, but I can always spot a Kevin. Something about his writing makes it stand out from the others but I can't quite put my finger on the reason why.
  • 2 Hide
    qlum , September 15, 2014 1:44 PM
    Quote:
    Release dates for Grand Theft Auto 4 copy pasted from wikipedia

    Release date for PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360
    29 April 2008

    Microsoft Windows
    NA 2 December 2008

    April - December was 9 months to "spit-polish" Grand Theft Auto 4 for PC

    They must have hired much better coders to be able to "spit-polish" Grand Theft Auto 5 in 3 months


    actually they got more then a year since the ps3/360 release. so its some months on top of the 9 months gta4 got.
  • 20 Hide
    Devoteicon , September 15, 2014 2:07 PM
    I can't wait to pair my R9 295X2 with this and enjoy my ~30fps.
  • 6 Hide
    oczdude8 , September 15, 2014 2:31 PM
    I bet they are working on making a super tight DRM for it.
    "you can only play gtaV after inserting a drop of your first born son's blood into the USB Authenticator"

    But seriously, if they actually make a good DRM that's secure yet, non-instrusive, It would be amazing.
  • 10 Hide
    heero yuy , September 15, 2014 3:48 PM
    and then the game comes out and the port is a PoS
  • 3 Hide
    RCguitarist , September 15, 2014 4:08 PM
    I'm sure you are absolutely right.
  • -4 Hide
    RCguitarist , September 15, 2014 4:09 PM
    I'm sure you are absolutely right.
  • 2 Hide
    RCguitarist , September 15, 2014 4:11 PM
    I hate tom's absolute inability to make quoting work on mobile. Technology site???
  • 3 Hide
    canadianvice , September 15, 2014 4:31 PM
    Quote:
    I bet they are working on making a super tight DRM for it.
    "you can only play gtaV after inserting a drop of your first born son's blood into the USB Authenticator"

    But seriously, if they actually make a good DRM that's secure yet, non-instrusive, It would be amazing.

    They have Steam. Anything else is trash.
  • 1 Hide
    HomeSkillenSlice , September 15, 2014 5:44 PM
    RCguitarist is absolutely spot on. I dont blame them tho tbh there are definitely lots of people willing to pay for this game but the longer they delay it the more sales will be earned. Just the nature of the PC gaming community some play it fairly while others won't.

    However what they don't have an excuse for is a shty port. Kiss my faith in Rockstar goodbye if they don't put any effort into it.
  • -2 Hide
    HomeSkillenSlice , September 15, 2014 5:44 PM
    RCguitarist is absolutely spot on. I dont blame them tho tbh there are definitely lots of people willing to pay for this game but the longer they delay it the more sales will be earned. Just the nature of the PC gaming community some play it fairly while others won't.

    However what they don't have an excuse for is a shty port. Kiss my faith in Rockstar goodbye if they don't put any effort into it.
  • 0 Hide
    swiftleeo , September 15, 2014 5:48 PM
    If it is a quality PC port, then by all means I shall buy it. I have the 360 version (around 30 mil on one account) so transferring will be a breeeze :p 
  • 0 Hide
    mrmez , September 15, 2014 6:38 PM
    Finished it twice on PS3, and I can't WAIT to get this on PC.
  • 0 Hide
    soldier44 , September 15, 2014 8:34 PM
    Running 3 GTX 780 Tis with a 4K display looking forward to this and Far Cry 4, The Division and Rainbow 6.
  • -4 Hide
    vmem , September 15, 2014 9:08 PM
    Quote:
    Quote:
    I bet they are working on making a super tight DRM for it.
    "you can only play gtaV after inserting a drop of your first born son's blood into the USB Authenticator"

    But seriously, if they actually make a good DRM that's secure yet, non-instrusive, It would be amazing.

    They have Steam. Anything else is trash.


    Yet Steam, who once saved PC gaming, is now slowly killing it. and this is due to the ever so popular (I love them too) steam sales. Any publisher (both big and indie) knows that nearly half of the PC gamers would never buy a game at the opening price, but wait for at least a 50% off sale or something before even considering a game. therefore, once again, PC becomes the platform with decreasing profit and an afterthought for most publishers
  • 0 Hide
    mrmez , September 15, 2014 10:10 PM
    I don't think they are going to laden it with excessive DRM at all.

    I think they are delaying it so long after the PS4/Xbx release so they can sell as many legit games as they can, which they are perfectly entitled to do.
    By the time the PC version is released they would have sold enough to not bother with ridiculous DRM.

    Not a bad strategy. Keeps them making good money, so they can keep making great games while not pissing off the world with insane DRM requirements.
  • 1 Hide
    leeb2013 , September 15, 2014 11:10 PM
    unfortunately I have my doubts that it will look any better on PC than console whilst needing significantly more processing power. I want to be amazed though.
  • 5 Hide
    plasmastorm , September 16, 2014 1:17 AM
    My brother worked as the lead AI developer on GTA games up until GTA san andreas.
    He told me at that time they had literally 1 person who did the conversion from console to PC.
    Considering how bare minimum it was back then I would not be surprised if they have similar setup now.

    For Christ sake here in Edinburgh they advertise for "Runners" to work in the office.
    Know what a runner is? Basically it's a butler, job description states everything from making coffee to picking up washing, I kid you not.
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