
This Title Update introduced several undocumented fixes and improvements, including the ability to aim and shoot using certain heavy weapons while walking in GTA III and GTA Vice City (absent from the original classic titles), the return of classic lighting, city-based weather types for GTA San Andreas, and several other improvements from Video Games Deluxe's mobile versions of the games.
Here is a comprehensive list of updates, with large credits to VideoTech on Twitter for compiling most of it:
Global Changes (GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas)
- Added Classic Lighting mode which restores the look and feel of the sky in the original games
- Classic Lighting also brings back the original fog that makes the map feel bigger
- Replaced the Unreal Engine's stock volumetric clouds in favor of a 2D-style approach from the original games
- Improved rain-pouring effects and weather across all three games
- Birds across all three games have returned
- You can now pause cutscenes
- Introduced a new movement option for improved gunplay and character movement
- Added a date and time for saves
- Updated the disclaimer screen to reflect Rockstar Games branding.
- Fixed an issue with shadows shifting in chunks; shadows now render in real-time
- Updated reflections to use cube map reflections instead of Unreal Engine's SSR, resolving artifacting issues
- Improved game performance on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X, including frame-pacing fixes
- Several "fake" 3D interiors have been removed
- Optimization efforts have been made on PC to improve game performance
- Fire now produces lens flares
- Fixed 3D interiors that stretched when viewed up close.
- Improved the visual quality on the Nintendo Switch to align more closely with the original game when Classic Mode is enabled while tuning down other visual settings
- Various collision fixes across all three games
- Street lighting color has been updated to a more yellow tint to resemble the original games
Grand Theft Auto III - The Definitive Edition
- Added the ability to aim and shoot Heavy Weapons while moving
- Fixed an issue with the Shoreside Vale garage doors, which now open correctly on three sides.
- Improved pistol sound effects.
- Addressed an issue with Eightballs Autoyard exhibiting incorrect misspellings
- Improved Happy Blimp's sign to become more gritty in order to become more in line with the game's world
- Improved a number of generic garage doors with redesigned textures
- Improved McAdam Airways sign with a redesigned high-resolution asset
- Addressed an issue with incorrect spelling for Pay N' Spray signs
- Addressed an issue where the garage doors would exhibit a repeating sound effect when leaving and entering
- Improved ZIP brand signage with a redesigned high-resolution asset
- Addressed a clipping issue that allowed players to visit islands during early story progression
- A number of fixes have been applied to incorrect texture UVs across roads within the game
- Fixed the tree blocking view of “You weren't supposed to be here” sign
- Addressed an issue for signage with PetStuffers to correct spelling
- Addressed an issue with textures appearing across apartment buildings with poor UVs and low-resolution assets
- Removed a distracting puddle near the safehouse
- The lanterns and banners in Chinatown now correctly move with the wind instead of being static objects
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - The Definitive Edition
- Added the ability to aim and shoot Heavy Weapons while moving
- Restored neon lights from the original PS2 version at Malibu Club and filling stations.
- Fixed incorrect island positions in the map UI
- Addressed an issue with a large moon appearing in the opening cutscene at the start of the game
- Addressed an issue with tire smoke appearing as black
- Addressed an issue with Les Cargo having missing collisions
- Addressed an issue with floating collision for a rock near the lighthouse
- Addressed a number of misspellings across road direction signage
- Addressed an issue with Rafael's incorrect neon light color
- Improved Comet vehicle to resemble the original game
- Added a new freezing smoke effect emitted from the freezer during the cutscene with Sonny Forelli in the opening introduction of the game
- Placed bushes along Ocean Drive to reflect the original game
- Addressed an issue with suspension vehicle height
- Addressed an issue with Ammu-Nation signage using incorrect spelling
- Addressed an issue with road lines being visible in incorrect corners
- Addressed an issue with Rvec Moi Holidays signage using incorrect spelling
- Improved lighting conditions for Ocean Drive hotel and added new light props for the hotel entrance
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Definitive Edition
- Restored original weather and lighting preset for Los Santos, San Fierro, Las Venturas, and other map areas.
- Improved rigging for crouching, bike/motorbike use, and swimming animations
- Addressed an issue with fast swimming speeds
- Fixed the alignment for the animations of CJ drinking from vending machines and puking
- Improved lighting conditions for various missions, most evident during the opening cutscene of "Ryder" and "Drive-thu"
- Addressed an issue where music may not play correctly in nightclubs
- A number of signage have been replaced with high-resolution assets
- Corrected transparency issues on Grove Street Bridge's weep holes
- Improved several fire effects
- Addressed a major issue with the sandstorm not exhibiting effects correctly
- Addressed an issue where Clunkin' Bell and Burger Shot props would not move and remain static
- Improved Love Fist's logo with a redesigned high-resolution asset
- Breakable props such as garbage bags and boxes now produce better effects
- Improved flight gameplay visuals with the original clouds from the original game, the volumetric-like clouds can be observed in an aircraft
- Addressed an issue with lamp posts reflecting white, instead of orange to reflect the timing of the game
- Improved aiming reticle to change color based on the target health
- Addressed an issue where the crash icon would not appear
- Animated oil rigs now properly work instead of being static
- Replaced the low-resolution Officer Tenpenny badge with a high-resolution asset
- Fixed an issue where firetrucks would not put out fires
- Addressed an issue with Sphinx Face having an incorrect color
- Improved CJ's robbery mask with a high-resolution asset
- Fixed an issue with punching bags in the Gyms
- Improved several doors, windows, and building textures that were resigned/redrawn in this update
- Addressed an issue where the hanger doors at LV were incorrectly positioned
- Improved mouth animations across cutscenes
- Addressed an issue where the rainbows would not appear
- Improvements made to San Fierro's bridge texturing work
- Select buildings in Las Venturas received new texturing improvements
- VRock building receives new texturing improvements
- CJ's cowboy boots now appear darker
- Improved CJ's pant textures with a high-resolution asset
- Minor adjustments were made to CJ's face texture and his shoes
- Improvements made to Claude's character model in "Farewell, My Love"
- Fixed an issue where CJ will now jump into water correctly without floating
- Red Country is more optimized and performance-friendly
- Restored the unique running animation based on CJ being skinny, muscular, or fat.
- CJ no longer disappears when looking at a mirror while aiming a Sniper Rifle
- Fixed the Hangar Door at Verdant Meadows not opening correctly
- The screen moving effect after bringing home a girlfriend has been restored