Upgrades That Aren’t
Fans have a laundry list of complaints.
Those players are, understandably, unwilling to lose their many hours of progress.
The remaster also promised faster load times, whichdoesn’t seem to be the case in many circumstances.
Overall, it isnt living up to the Enhanced in its name, and players are mad.
The addition of mid-mission checkpoints wasnt enough to make this collection worth the $60 price of admission.
Though Rockstar also, controversially,removed credit for developer Grove Street Games from the start-up screen.
It cost near-full price at $50, but, hey, at least it worked.
All Hands On Deck
So are these bad remasters indicative of broader problems at Rockstar?
Should fans be worried aboutGTA 6not living up to the company’s usual standards?
Will it launch with similar issues?
I dont think so.
In fact, it may actually indicate the opposite.
Except Enhanced is solely credited toRockstar North, and has similar issues.
So, what gives?
Rockstar makes gigantic games that, despite their size, feel authored.
It makes systemic open-world games that somehow launch without the jank we expect from big, mechanics-heavy titles.
But its becoming clear that its remasters don’t get the same care.
Rockstars new releases are all-hands-on-deck projects that require the work of every team inside the sprawling studio.
They can’t replicate their success launching games that are bigandpolished without devoting a large number of developers.
GTA 5 Enhanced is the latest evidence that it seems Rockstar isn’t willing to do that.
I doubt GTA 6 will have similar problems.
Or will it take another generation to get sales ticking up again?
