I have high expectations for GTA 6. We’re returning to Vice City (this time in a reimagined, modern version), and based on Rockstar’s success with Red Dead Redemption 2, their storytelling in epic crime dramas has only improved over the last decade.
However, the memory of the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition still casts a shadow. The “enhanced” visuals stripped GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas of their original style and atmosphere.
Setting aside the bugs and technical issues, even when these remastered classics worked as intended, the visuals simply fell short. But now, thanks to a surprise update from Rockstar, things have taken a turn for the better.
With the GTA 6 release date approaching, anyone who hasn’t played the earlier entries should know that almost every Grand Theft Auto game—starting with the very first one back in 1997—is still worth experiencing.
If you’re interested in exploring or revisiting some of the best open-world games ever made, the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition remains the most accessible option, especially since the original versions of Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA 3 are no longer available in digital stores.
And now, with Rockstar’s recent update, one of the most glaring issues in the remaster has been addressed: the unpleasant sky and lighting effects have finally been corrected.
The change is especially noticeable in San Andreas. The original warm, orange glow from 2004 was replaced in the Definitive Edition with a colder, murkier color scheme, which detracted from the game’s unique visual appeal.
Now, though, players can activate a ‘classic lighting’ option in the Definitive Edition, bringing the look and feel of each game much closer to its original style—and to how it should appear.
Initially, this feature was only available for the mobile and Netflix versions of the Definitive Edition, but it has now been extended to PC and consoles as well.
You can view a helpful comparison in a video below, posted by YouTuber ‘Fess Beast.’
This update isn’t the only positive news for GTA fans lately. Rockstar recently announced that GTA 5 PC players will gain access to content previously exclusive to consoles, and there’s speculation that a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 might be on the horizon.
In the meantime, check out some of the best crime games, or dive into the top sandbox games available on PC.
