GTA 5 free PC upgrade: 5 reasons you should consider before updating

The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) community is eagerly awaiting the Expanded and Enhanced (E&E) version of GTA 5 for PC. Rockstar Games has promised a variety of technical upgrades and graphical improvements, mirroring the enhancements introduced in the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions. However, before making the decision to upgrade, players must carefully evaluate whether the new version is suitable for their systems and gaming preferences.
While the new update brings visual enhancements, improved performance, and advanced rendering technologies, there are also potential downsides that may impact players, particularly those with older hardware or who heavily rely on mods.


One of the most critical concerns regarding the GTA 5 PC upgrade is its system requirements. Rockstar Games has provided the minimum specifications for running the E&E version:
Minimum system requirements for GTA 5 E&E PC upgrade:

These specifications indicate that older or mid-range PCs may struggle to handle the upgrade efficiently. If your system does not meet these requirements, forcing the game to run on unsupported hardware may result in severe performance issues, crashes, or an unplayable experience. Players are advised to assess their system compatibility before upgrading.

The E&E version of GTA 5 introduces several graphical enhancements and optimizations, including:

While these features significantly improve the visual quality, they also increase the hardware demand. If your system does not have a powerful GPU and sufficient RAM, the upgrade may result in frame drops, overheating, and frequent crashes.
Moreover, higher-resolution textures and ray tracing require a capable GPU with sufficient VRAM, and systems that do not meet the recommended specs may struggle with stuttering gameplay and increased load times.
For players with mid-to-low-end PCs, sticking to the legacy version may be the best option to maintain stable performance.

GTA 5 on PC is well-known for its extensive modding community, with thousands of players using custom mods, graphic enhancements, and gameplay tweaks. However, upgrading to the E&E version may render many existing mods incompatible.
Since Rockstar Games frequently releases updates that modify the game's core files, mod developers will need to patch and optimize their mods to function correctly with the latest version. This means:

For players who rely on modded gameplay, it is advisable to wait before upgrading. Checking mod compatibility and waiting for updates from developers will help ensure a smooth transition to the new version.

GTA RP servers, such as FiveM, have become a major part of the GTA 5 community, allowing players to engage in custom roleplay experiences. However, the E&E update has not been optimized for RP servers yet.
Cfx.re, the developer behind FiveM, has confirmed that GTA RP servers will only run on the legacy version of GTA 5 until further updates are released.
For RP players, upgrading may result in:

Until Rockstar officially supports FiveM and other RP servers on the E&E version, players who primarily play GTA RP should avoid upgrading.

While the E&E version of GTA 5 offers visual and performance improvements, it does not introduce any new content for single-player mode.
Unlike GTA Online, which receives frequent updates, new vehicles, missions, and gameplay features, the story mode remains unchanged.
For players who:

There are no significant gameplay improvements that justify the upgrade. If you only play the single-player mode, the legacy version remains sufficient.
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