A long-standing GTA V upgrade barrier is finally being removed.

Players still roaming Los Santos on older consoles are about to get a free ticket to the latest version of Grand Theft Auto V. According to a report by Video Game Chronicle, Rockstar Games has announced that anyone who owns a digital copy of GTA V on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S version at no extra cost. The offer arrives as part of a new GTA Online update, and will become available on Thursday. 

For players who never made the jump to the current-generation release, the upgrade removes one of the remaining barriers to accessing the newer version of the game before Grand Theft Auto VI arrives later this year.

Who can get the free GTA V PS5 and Xbox Series X|S upgrade?

According to Rockstar, the offer applies to owners of any PlayStation 4 version of Grand Theft Auto V, as well as players who own the digital Xbox One edition. Eligible players will be able to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S version without purchasing the game again. The current-generation edition originally launched on 15 March 2022, bringing a range of technical improvements designed to take advantage of newer hardware. 

Rockstar said the release "introduced high-end PC visuals to the console experience" through new graphics modes and performance options.

What changes does the current-gen version of GTA V include?

While GTA V remains the same open-world crime sandbox at its core, the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions offer a number of upgrades over their PS4 and Xbox One counterparts.

These include support for resolutions up to 4K, frame rates of up to 60 frames per second, improved texture quality, HDR support, and ray tracing features. Rockstar also highlighted faster loading times, enhanced 3D audio and additional platform-specific functionality made possible by newer console hardware. 

For players who have spent years in GTA Online, the upgrade provides access to the most up-to-date console version of Rockstar's long-running multiplayer experience.

When is GTA 6 releasing?

Rockstar's next entry in the series, Grand Theft Auto 6, is currently scheduled to launch on 19 November, 2026. The game was originally announced with a 2025 release window before being pushed back to 26 May, 2026. 

Rockstar later delayed the title again in November 2025, finally setting its current release date for November 2026.