Differences Between GTA 5 Legacy and Enhanced on PC

Like Skyrim and The Last of Us, GTA 5 has seen numerous re-releases, spanning from its initial launch on seventh-generation consoles to its arrival on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, despite its decade-long lifespan, the game had only one PC version — until now.

Rockstar has finally given the PC version of GTA 5 a long-awaited upgrade. This update has split the game into two versions: GTA 5 Legacy and GTA 5 Enhanced. If you’re unsure about the differences between them or which version to play, below is a detailed overview of what makes each version special.

GTA 5 Upgrade Explained

For the last couple of years, the PC version of GTA 5 lagged behind its ninth-generation console version. Both Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 received a significant update featuring major technical improvements, including ray tracing, along with new content such as additional vehicles in GTA Online. However, PC players were left waiting for those enhancements.

On March 4, a long-awaited update finally arrived, making the PC version of GTA 5 even more advanced than its console counterparts. However, since not everyone has high-end hardware, Rockstar introduced two separate versions:

• Legacy: The original version of GTA 5 with none of the latest improvements.
• Enhanced: The newer version of GTA 5 that includes all the latest improvements.

The best part? All PC players can upgrade to the Enhanced version for free, including those who originally claimed the game for free via the Epic Games Store.

GTA 5 Enhanced – New Features & Improvements

The Enhanced version of GTA 5 introduces a variety of upgrades, from new vehicles to gameplay enhancements. Here’s everything that has been added:

New Vehicles & Upgrades at Hao’s Special Works (HSW)

Newly Added Vehicles:

• Super: Coil Cyclone II, Pegassi Weaponized Ignus
• Muscle: Imponte Arbiter GT
• Sports: Karin S95
• SUV: Pfister Astron Custom

Newly Upgradable Vehicles at HSW:

• Super: Principe Deveste Eight, Overflod Entity MT
• Sports: Bravado Banshee, Bravado Banshee GTS, Grotti Itali GTO Stinger TT, Penaud La Coureuse, Ubermacht Niobe
• Sports Classic: Benefactor Stirling GT, Grotti Turismo Classic
• Muscle: Bravado Buffalo EVX, Declasse Vigero ZX, Declasse Vigero ZX Convertible
• Coupe: Annis Euros X32, Ubermacht Sentinel XS
• Off-Road: Maibatsu MonstroCiti, Vapid Firebolt ASP
• SUV: Karin Vivanite, Weeny Issi Rally
• Motorcycle: Shitzu Hakuchou Drag
• Compact: Grotti Brioso R/A

Additional Enhancements

• Ambient Wildlife in Southern San Andreas – Participate in the Wildlife Photography Challenge to earn rewards.
• GTA+ Membership Support – Subscribe for exclusive benefits in GTA Online.
• Career Progress Feature – Tracks your progress across all GTA Online updates.
• New Landing Page – Get into the action faster with an improved menu interface.

GTA 5 Enhanced Edition – Technical Upgrades

The Enhanced version of GTA 5 brings with it several major technical improvements, making it the definitive edition for PC players.

Ray Tracing Features

• Exclusive to PC: Ray-Traced Ambient Occlusion & Global Illumination (not available on consoles).
• First Introduced on Consoles: Ray-Traced Shadows & Reflections now available on PC.

Performance & Visual Enhancements

• Upscaling Technology Support: AMD FSR 1, FSR 3, and NVIDIA DLSS 3 for improved performance and image quality.
• Faster Load Times: Improved loading speeds on SSDs, with DirectStorage support for even quicker asset streaming.
• Native DualSense Controller Support: Full adaptive triggers support for an immersive experience on PlayStation 5 controllers.
• Enhanced Audio: Improved speech, cinematic, and music fidelity, with Dolby Atmos support for richer sound.

New System Requirements

These technical improvements have raised the base system requirements for GTA 5 Enhanced. However, the Legacy version remains unaffected and retains its original requirements.

GTA 5 Enhanced & Legacy Version – Compatibility & FiveM Support

Progress Migration

• Story Mode & GTA Online progress can be migrated from Legacy to Enhanced — but only once.
• After migration, progress in both versions will be separate, allowing players to switch between them freely.

FiveM Support

• FiveM will continue to function as usual in the Legacy version.
• Developers are working on bringing FiveM support to the Enhanced version.

Multiplayer & Matchmaking

• Separate Matchmaking: Players on the Enhanced version cannot play with those on the Legacy version, and vice versa.
• To play with friends, everyone must be on the same version of the game.

Access to Both Versions

• All players, whether new or existing, will have access to both the Legacy and Enhanced versions.
• Players can freely choose which version to play.

Ongoing Support for Legacy Version

• Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 5 Legacy will continue receiving support, so upgrading is not mandatory.

Should You Play GTA 5 Legacy or Enhanced?

While GTA 5 Enhanced has some minor issues — likely to be fixed in future updates — it is vastly superior to Legacy. The ability to migrate progress makes the Legacy version largely obsolete for most players.

For PC players, the Enhanced version is the clear choice. Thanks to improvements like Ray Tracing, new vehicles, and faster loading speeds, the game doesn’t feel like a decade-old title.

The only reason to stick with Legacy is if your PC cannot handle the new version. Otherwise, upgrading to GTA 5 Enhanced is the way to go.