The long-awaited GTA V Enhanced upgrade for PC is finally here, delivering improved visuals, smoother performance, and exclusive features that were once limited to next-gen consoles.
Available through the Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam, and Epic Games, this new version makes Los Santos look and feel better than ever.
If you already own GTA V on PC, the upgrade is free. New players who purchase GTA V now will automatically receive both GTA V Enhanced and the older GTA V Legacy editions, with the option to migrate progress from Story Mode and GTA Online.
This means that even if you’re starting fresh with new GTA 5 accounts, you’ll still get access to all the latest features while keeping the classic version available for older hardware.
GTA Online Features
The most exciting part of GTA V Enhanced is the expanded GTA Online experience. Players can now take advantage of Hao’s Special Works (HSW), unlocking vehicle upgrades, Chameleon Paints, and new high-performance modifications.
Several vehicles have been added to the PC version for the first time, including the Pegassi Weaponized Ignus, Coil Cyclone II, Karin S95, Imponte Arbiter GT, and the Pfister Astron Custom.
Beyond new vehicles, the Enhanced edition introduces ambient wildlife into Los Santos. Players can now encounter animals in the world and even participate in a daily Wildlife Photography Challenge offered by the LS Tourist Board.
For those starting fresh, the revamped landing page and Career Builder system make getting into GTA Online smoother than ever, with a GTA$4,000,000 windfall to kickstart your criminal career.
A new Career Progress tracker also lets you measure achievements across all updates and unlock rewards as you advance.
Technical Enhancements on PC
On the technical side, GTA V Enhanced takes full advantage of modern PCs. Players can experience ray-traced ambient occlusion, global illumination, shadows, and reflections, making Los Santos look sharper and more lifelike than ever before.
The game also supports AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS, with upcoming Frame Generation updates, as well as full DualSense controller functionality featuring adaptive triggers.
Performance is significantly improved, too, thanks to faster loading times through SSDs and DirectStorage, support for higher resolutions and aspect ratios, and enhanced audio quality with Dolby Atmos. From visual fidelity to sound design, every aspect of the experience feels polished and modernized.
GTA V Enhanced vs Legacy
For players with older hardware, Rockstar has kept the Legacy version available. This ensures everyone can still enjoy GTA V, even if they can’t meet the Enhanced edition’s minimum requirements.
It’s worth noting, however, that Legacy and Enhanced players are separated into different online pools, so friends will need to be on the same version to play together.
Fortunately, Story Mode progress can be migrated from Legacy to Enhanced, meaning long-time players won’t lose their hard-earned progress when making the switch.
Quality of Life and Security
The upgrade also introduces important player protections. A new kernel-based anti-cheat system helps keep GTA Online fair, while proactive voice chat moderation addresses toxicity. Rockstar has also refreshed its community guidelines to foster a safer and more enjoyable multiplayer environment.
Final Thoughts
The GTA V Enhanced upgrade on PC is much more than a simple graphical update. With faster load times, ray tracing, new content, and quality-of-life features, it redefines the GTA V experience for 2026.
The addition of exclusive vehicles, wildlife encounters, and major online updates makes Los Santos more immersive than ever.
Whether you’re migrating from Legacy or playing for the first time, GTA V Enhanced offers the definitive way to experience both the single-player story and the chaos of GTA Online.
