The PC version

[Prometheus]

 

 

 

 

 

	Index
1.	Introduction
2.	Features
3.	"Evidence"
4.	Port or Development?
5.	Release Date
5.1	Piracy
5.2	Development
6.	System Requirements

 

 

 

 

 

This topic, like most PC topics, discusses everything about the PC version in general, whether it's currently being in the works or not, ported or developed, its expected release date, and the system requirements. Just remember, it's all speculation, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

The PC platform is certainly not a platform to be ignored, as there is a plethora of PC dedicated fans of the video game series. An example for that is the modding community who help day by day increase the longevity of each of the past GTA titles. These dedicated fans have bought multiplayer into games like Vice City and San Andreas also without the coding, vehicles, maps, characters, tools and the other things they have created over the years these titles would have been long forgotten.

 

Another example is the petition created by a fan right after R* announced Grand Theft Auto V for the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 platforms, calling on Rockstar Games to release their biggest open-world action adventure game to the PC platform simultaneously, a la the same date as the consoles. This petition has more than 170,000 online signatures so far, yet R* never responded [directly]. The most logical explanation would be that releasing the game on the same release date as the consoles' may not be the best marketing decision - well, at least that's the case for R*.

 

According to the poll of the GTA V Forum's Which Platform? topic, more people are willing to play the game on the PC rather than the Xbox 360. But the sales usually prove otherwise, as R* shipped 22 million copies of Grand Theft Auto IV as of September 2011, and according to VGChartz - a somewhat reliable source [and keep in mind that these numbers are accurate guesstimates] - 19.5 million copies were console versions, where as only 2.5 out of the 22 million are PC copies. Usually the low number could be explained as a cause from the delay of the PC version, but apparently it's the same case with Max Payne 3, R*'s "biggest and boldest marketing effort thus far", as R* reported as of July 2012 the shipping of 3 million units of the game - 2.5 million are of the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 consoles, while about half a million units shipped were of the PC versions.

 

 

The PC version always had several alterations from the consoles', such as a customizable radio station, an in-game video editor, multiplayer modes supporting up to 32 players and of course a wider range of graphics options. The game also has a much bigger size than the consoles' versions, and that's mostly for the textures, pre-rendered cutscenes and audio.

 

Regarding the graphics, Max Payne 3 used a form of Tessellation called Phong Tessellation, which worked on character and vehicle models, benefiting from the use of Hull, Tessellation and Domain shaders. Also of course the game had the option of selecting higher quality/resolution textures and the possibility to scale the quality of water, shadows, character detail. It's also possible select your DirectX version, with the choices of DX9, DX10 and DX11. DX11.1 support is expected If R* decides to re-use this option for GTAV.

 

The game also supported Ambient Occlusion, in the form of SSAO (Screen Space Ambient Occlusion) and HDAO (High Definition Ambient Occlusion). That's in addition to Fast Approximate and Multisample Anti Aliasing, two important features that should've been added for GTA IV.

 

Should we be expecting all these features in Grand Theft Auto V? Definitely. For a [possible] 2014 PC game, it's a necessity. If they did it with Max Payne 3, then they'll definitely do it with GTA V; both games are developed using the same engine.

 

 

 

Since Grand Theft Auto III, R* has made the tradition of releasing their Grand Theft Auto titles for the PC months after the initial consoles release, a series which was born on that very platform. It's well known thatthe Grand Theft Auto series started on the PC platform, with the PS1 port released shortly after, followed by a sequel. However this pattern changed from the first 3D game of the series, as Grand Theft Auto III was planned for a Playstation 2/SEGA Dreamcast release, with the latter being canceled in the early phase of the development process. The PC and the Xbox versions followed months after. This change in the series' lead platform was likely due to the noticeable higher amount of sales on the PS1 rather than the PC version.

 

Since then, people have always been very skeptical towards claims of a PC version in the works, or even the game being released on the PC at all - right after the announcement of the platforms. However there have been several "hints" pointing towards the contrary of these beliefs.

 

For example, the development of the PC version of the game may have just been acknowledged to us through the R* Support team when a fan asked about the possibility of SLI support, they may have accidentally provided him a "confirmation" of the PC version, rather than denying it being in the works:

 

"...once we get ahead on the launch date then we all will gain more information on GTA V and its system requirements."

 

The R* support team are aware of what's happening "backstage", and they've never denied a PC version of the game - and it happened more than once, as they commented again on the PC subject right after announcing the platforms for V. This, could be considered the closest we have to a proof that there will be a PC version of GTA V, but it won't be released initially:

 

 

”...about the PC platform, we're currently focused on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game and don't have any details to share about a PC version at this time.”

 

Remember, in the case of Red Dead Redemption, R* made a statement explaining that they had no plans for a PC port at all. Keep in mind that Red Dead Redemption was developed by R* San Diego, a studio which released only 1 game on the PC platform out of a total of 8 since the studio was acquired by Take Two back in 2002, and that game was Midnight Club 2.

 

Also several sites [including Amazon] have listed the game available for pre-order already, even though it's not announced yet. These retailers are well aware of what they're selling, and certainly they won't be listing games without any confirmation, or based on rumours "they heard". This happened before with several games [to be listed for pre-ordering prior to their announcement], only to be confirmed afterwards. You can read more about this in S1LV3R_W0LF's post.

 

 

 

There's been a lot of discussion on whether if the game will be yet another port as GTA IV, or will it be developed simultaneously with the Xbox 360 and the PS3 versions of the game, as Max Payne 3. And as of far, it seems that it's going to be "somewhat" developed in parallel with the PS3 and the Xbox 360 consoles, but with a different release date - and here's why.

 

The closest we ever got to a confirmation is a statement from Dan Houser [on an interview with Multiplayer.it] explaining that the game has no lead-platform, which might just mean that they could be pulling more effort on the PC version this time, since it's very likely that it's being developed (S1LVER_W0LF made a topic on 10 possible reasons why the PC version could be in the works, and they're quite plausible).

 

R* is likely not to port GTA V in the same "peculiarity" as with IV; since the latter was their first game developed using RAGE to be ported to the PC. However, considering their lastest installment to the PC - Max Payne 3 - and the optimized engine, it seems to be near impossible for them to back-pedal and release another poor port. Also it's been said that the studio that's [already] working on the development is R* Leeds, the same studio behind the PC versions of Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire.

 

 

 

As known and mentioned before, R* has been releasing their Grand Theft Auto games to the PC several months after the initial release date since III, and if it wasn't for the relatively low sales it would've definitely been a different case. There are two potential factors that could be cause of the delay, or the late release of the PC version - and it could be listed in points in the following:

 

5.1. Piracy

 

● It's customary of game companies [such as R*] to release their games initially to the consoles before being ported to the PC platform. Even though R* could profit in the PC "station" with a simultaneous release, they may score a larger loss in general through piracy.

● With consoles nowadays are hacked to their limits, and game cracks and serial code generators available only hours after the game's released or leaked in the case of PC, it's never been easier to pirate before. Though the Multiplayer is a major selling point, but will it be enough for convincing purchasing the game for that alone? Well, The Benz had the following to say regarding the upcoming game's Multiplayer:

 

 

”...and on the multiplayer side we hope that GTA V will do for multiplayer open world games what GTA 3 did for open world single-player games.”

 

The Benz, IGN Interview

 

We should be able to know more about the Multiplayer aspect in due time, as R*'s planning to do a reveal soon.

● DRM puts restrictions on paying consumers that drives them to pirate, such as allowing a limited use of serial keys, or the always online restrictions such as SimCity which didn't turn out to be a success.

● GTA sales on the PC platform have mounted up to %10 as of far. Of course R* would've given more attention to the PC platform and released their games simultaneously if the sales matched as those of the consoles - R* is a company after all. It used to be the PC that was the lead platform.

 

5.2. Development

 

● The PC version of GTA IV was released a long 6 months after the consoles', and the sales of course were worse than what was expected if the game was released initially alongside the PS3 and the X360.

● Regarding development on the PC, R* North doesn't usually develop or port their games to the PC platform, it's usually done by a different studio, i.e. R* Leeds or Toronto. R* Toronto produced a poorly coded port of GTA IV, with insanely high system requirements. That' definitely going to affect the sales if it happens again with GTA V. If your PC isn't able to run the game properly, there's no reason to purchase it.

 

For the reasons mentioned above, it's safe to say that the PC version of GTA V (and every previous installment since III) was delayed because of piracy, a factor that negatively affects the sales.

 

As for the release date itself, the game might just be released on the 1st quarter of 2014, with a similar gap between the console and the PC versions of GTA IV.

 

 

 

 

Whenever there's an on-going discussion about the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V, the system requirements is a subject that is always brought up. It certainly can't be easily predicted, as it is something that heavily depends on the quality of the development - hence, complete guesswork. Note that these requirements are heavily based on the Max Payne 3 system requirements - in other words, what could've been MP3's requirements if it was released a year and a half to two years later.

 

 

 

LOWEST TESTED SPECS

Windows 8/7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)

Intel Dual Core 2.8 GHZ or AMD Dual Core 3.0 GHZ, or better

2GB System RAM

NVIDIA® GeForce 9600 GT 512MB RAM

or AMD Radeon™ HD 4000 512MB RAM

 

LOW RECOMMENDED SPECS

Windows 8/7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)

Intel Dual Core 3.2GHz or AMD equivalent

4GB System RAM

NVIDIA® GeForce 550Ti 1GB RAM

or AMD Radeon™ HD 5770 1GB RAM

 

HIGH RECOMMENDED SPECS

Windows 8/7/Vista/XP (32 or 64 bit)

Intel i7 Quad Core 3Ghz or AMD equivalent

4GB System RAM

NVIDIA® GeForce GTX 660 GB 2RAM

or AMD Radeon™ HD 7950 3GB RAM

 

HIGHEST TESTED SPECS

Windows 8/7/Vista/XP (64 bit)

Intel i7 4770K 4 Core x 3.50 GHZ

or AMD FX8150 8 Core x 3.6 GHZ

16GB System RAM

NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 680 2GB RAM

or AMD Radeon™ HD 7970 3GB RAM

 

Other Requirements

HDD Space: 30 to 45GB

Sound Card: 100% Direct X 9.0 compatible – Direct X 9.0 compatible supporting Dolby Digital Live

 

 

 

If your system happens to meet any of these requirements, then you may just able to run GTA V properly, that's if the quality of the development is par with Max Payne 3's.

 

 

 

Anyways, these were pretty much my thoughts on the PC version. Of course I'd love to read your opinions and replies regarding these topics, whether you agree or not, and any other topic you may want to talk about.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to shoumic and Carl CJ Johnsons Brother Brian for helping.

Edited May 9, 2013 by PrometheusX

[Guest]

0

Edited April 25, 2019 by Guest

[hhamzah99]

hdd 30 gb. If you have slow internet, and download it via steam.

[Killerdude]

I see it being a Port, Every GTA so far has been a Port, one way or another.

[haarp]

i think pc release 1 month after console

[Prometheus]

hdd 30 gb. If you have slow internet, and download it via steam.

Well it's a complete guesstimate, it could be a much higher or lower number.

 

@haarp: If it was to be released one month after, they would announced the PC version by now. One month only would also defeat the purpose of delaying the game on the PC as well.

[hhamzah99]

hdd 30 gb. If you have slow internet, and download it via steam.

Well it's a complete guesstimate, it could be a much higher or lower number.

 

@haarp: If it was to be released one month after, they would announced the PC version by now. One month only would also defeat the purpose of delaying the game on the PC as well.

I think they would make the files smaller to 10-20 gb

[Guest]

0

Edited April 25, 2019 by Guest

[KawakSallas]

I hope this thread don't turn into a pc vs console war or something.

 

If I remember right, after the desastrous GTA IV pc port, someone at Rockstar said that the next pc version of a GTA game would receive proper attention.

[Guest]

0

Edited April 25, 2019 by Guest

[Secura]

This was worth the wait.

[chr0ne]

This is a good read, it gives me hope

I suppose the main reason for GTA being better sold on consoles is because people don't actually

know if there will be a PC version, so they buy it for consoles, and later they don't want to spend

more money for the PC version.

I think it would be better if they released it at the same time.

 

But that is their decision, not mine.

I'm sure they have their own reason, like the delay.

(They delayed it so they could make a better experience for us, add more stuff in general)

 

Anyways, yes people are even more sceptical now because RDR didn't come to our PC-s

but you can read about this in the beginning.

[Voit Turyv]

Okay but... it is obvious.

This is a large title. Every large title of GTA has been ported to PC. Fifth iteration will be ported to PC as well.

[DaRealMrMurphy]

Why does this matter? Everyone knows the ps3 and xbox versions are far superior to the crappy pc version.

[iNero]

I hope this thread don't turn into a pc vs console war or something.

 

If I remember right, after the desastrous GTA IV pc port, someone at Rockstar said that the next pc version of a GTA game would receive proper attention.

And DICE in 2008 said that they will never demand money for DLC.

They will tell everything. All that stuff changes. And its 5 years since they said that.

 

[Spider-Vice]

Pretty nice topic, well done. I think GTA V will be bigger than 30 GB, Max Payne 3 wasn't open world and it was already 30GB on the PC. I'm expecting V for the PC to shoot into the 40's.

[Game2048]

 

I hope this thread don't turn into a pc vs console war or something.

 

If I remember right, after the desastrous GTA IV pc port, someone at Rockstar said that the next pc version of a GTA game would receive proper attention.

 

All you need to do is to report every hint on fanboy wars "Pc vs Console". This is true for everyone in this topic

 

And request to moderators - don't close this thread, just remove all posts of fanboys

Edited May 4, 2013 by Game2048

[r34ld34l]

Great topic, but fix DirectX 12, there is noone such thing. You meant 11.1

[DaRealMrMurphy]

I hope this thread don't turn into a pc vs console war or something.

 

If I remember right, after the desastrous GTA IV pc port, someone at Rockstar said that the next pc version of a GTA game would receive proper attention.

 

All you need to do is to report every hint on fanboy wars "Pc vs Console". This is true for everyone in this topic

 

And request to moderators - don't close this thread, just remove all posts of fanboys

It is hard not to be a fanboy when the ps3 and xbox 360 are far superior to any pc. Only console that sucks is the wii.

[Prometheus]

 

This is a good read, it gives me hope

I suppose the main reason for GTA being better sold on consoles is because people don't actually

know if there will be a PC version, so they buy it for consoles, and later they don't want to spend

more money for the PC version.

I think it would be better if they released it at the same time.

 

But that is their decision, not mine.

I'm sure they have their own reason, like the delay.

(They delayed it so they could make a better experience for us, add more stuff in general)

 

Anyways, yes people are even more sceptical now because RDR didn't come to our PC-s

but you can read about this in the beginning.

I'm pretty sure most of the fans are aware that there will eventually be a PC release. However I don't believe they'd delay it for optimizing the game. A good example for that in Max Payne 3.

 

 

Okay but... it is obvious.

This is a large title. Every large title of GTA has been ported to PC. Fifth iteration will be ported to PC as well.

I know it is, but there still are a lot people who believe otherwise [and it happened with IV], so I thought it's something that had to be mentioned.

 

 

Pretty nice topic, well done. I think GTA V will be bigger than 30 GB, Max Payne 3 wasn't open world and it was already 30GB on the PC. I'm expecting V for the PC to shoot into the 40's.

I thought so as well, but as hhamzah pointed out, they'll try to reduce the size to something lower; 40GB would be too much, even for today's standards.

 

 

Great topic, but fix DirectX 12, there is noone such thing. You meant 11.1

Ahhh, thanks for that.

 

@JesseMcCartney: Well that's, like, you know, your own opinion man.

[EncryptedReality]

Before wars rise up on this topic, just a friendly warning from me to you:

 

Is this topic to discuss of what's better or to let everyone enjoy the game respectively in due time?!

 

I say it's about the latter... just don't be stupid and think about it. I respect all console and PC gamers equally and i'd just like it if we could all enjoy the game at the same time and circumstances...

 

PS. question was more rhetorical to send a message in trial to form a sustainable discussion, not flaming each other and fighting like bitches on their periods.

Edited May 4, 2013 by GTARandom

[yonatan755]

Let me add 2 things:

PC also sale digital copies like steam for example. wich alooooooot of people buy

Also PC is way better in sales when it comes to long range.

And BTW FYI there will be no dx 12

[Game2048]

 

Before wars rise up on this topic, just a friendly warning from me to you:

 

Is this topic to discuss of what's better or to let everyone enjoy the game respectively in due time?

You'll not achieve anything by asking such questions. Fanboys will try to start their wars regardless of them

 

Just not react to fanboy wars, report them to mods and that's all. If you don't respond to them, if you will not take part in these fanboy wars, this topic will not be closed

 

 

[EncryptedReality]

Clearly, problem isn't me but majority of other people seen in other PC related topics. Ofcourse, i'll solve everything in a mature and civil manner if i notice any type of wars again, don't worry

[KawakSallas]

About system requirements: Similar, maybe slightly higher than Max Payne 3.

About release: With luck, by the end of this year, but probably in 2014. Q1 2014 is a good bet.

[Spider-Vice]

 

Pretty nice topic, well done. I think GTA V will be bigger than 30 GB, Max Payne 3 wasn't open world and it was already 30GB on the PC. I'm expecting V for the PC to shoot into the 40's.

I thought so as well, but as hhamzah pointed out, they'll try to reduce the size to something lower; 40GB would be too much, even for today's standards.

Metal Gear Solid 4 was 48 GB on the PS3. It used a dual-layer BluRay. X-Plane for the PC is a WHOPPING 70 GB.

[Game2048]

 

Clearly, problem isn't me but majority of other people seen in other PC related topics. Ofcourse, i'll solve everything in a mature and civil manner if i notice any type of wars again, don't worry

Yep, but the point that they will not understand you no matter how nicely you'll be speaking with them.

 

Better to just not react at all and not participate in this.

Edited May 4, 2013 by Game2048

[r34ld34l]

Pretty nice topic, well done. I think GTA V will be bigger than 30 GB, Max Payne 3 wasn't open world and it was already 30GB on the PC. I'm expecting V for the PC to shoot into the 40's.

I thought so as well, but as hhamzah pointed out, they'll try to reduce the size to something lower; 40GB would be too much, even for today's standards.

Metal Gear Solid 4 was 48 GB on the PS3. It used a dual-layer BluRay. X-Plane for the PC is a WHOPPING 70 GB.

I'm pretty sure MGS3 was 30GB, and X-Plane uses "detailed" world, so that's why.

[Masher8559]

Since GTA 3, the PC version has always had to wait long after console release and since Vice city they have only ever announced the PC version AFTER console release.

 

So there is really no need for anyone to worry, it's actually normal behaviour for Rockstar to keep quiet on the PC version.

[Andreas]

 

I suppose the main reason for GTA being better sold on consoles is because people don't actually

know if there will be a PC version, so they buy it for consoles, and later they don't want to spend

more money for the PC version.

Rockstar usually releases a game for the consoles, then they wait for a couple of months or longer, announce the same title for PC and release it 5-8 months after the initial release. The average customers either don't know if there will be a PC version at all because they aren't aware of the history of past releases or they don't have the patience to wait the additional months and buy the consoles version. Later then when the PC version finally releases, they will still pick it up because it's the platform they prefer. Either that or they don't buy the PC version after all since they already bought that particular title for PS3 or X360. That's just the usual case we're talking about here.

 

 

I think GTA V will be bigger than 30 GB, Max Payne 3 wasn't open world and it was already 30GB on the PC.

30GB sounds plausible but personally, I don't think that it will be any more than this, although that's just speculation. You have to assume that Max Payne 3 had a huge amount of pre-rendered cutscenes.