This Is Why GTA V On PC Arrives After Console

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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  • derekullo
    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
    Reply
  • redgarl
    It's a joke right...?
    Reply
  • RCguitarist
    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.
    Reply
  • qlum
    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.
    Reply
  • Devoteicon
    I can't wait to pair my R9 295X2 with this and enjoy my ~30fps.
    Reply
  • oczdude8
    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.
    Reply
  • heero yuy
    and then the game comes out and the port is a PoS
    Reply
  • RCguitarist
    I'm sure you are absolutely right.
    Reply
  • RCguitarist
    I'm sure you are absolutely right.
    Reply
  • RCguitarist
    I hate tom's absolute inability to make quoting work on mobile. Technology site???
    Reply