Last week, TechStomper compared the best visual vs. best performance modes for Rockstar’s release of Grand Theft Auto V for 9th gen. consoles. This week we compare PS5 and PS4 versions of GTA V to see if there is any worthy visual upgrade beyond resolution and framerate.
In this article’s comparison shots, the PlayStation 5 images are captured in Fidelity Mode for the sharpest images, densest foliage, sharpest shadows and a faint lick of ray tracing.
Both images were captured at 4K and downsampled using the same process, even though the PS4 version is rendered mostly at 1080p.
We used a PlayStation 4 Pro for 8th gen. capture and used Boost Mode – this does not alter the resolution but smooths out the frame-rate and cuts loading times.
PS5 images are on the left (or above on PC) throughout the piece while PS4 images are on the right (or below on PC).
GTA V‘s 8th gen. release was greeted fairly warmly. The game’s release near the end of the PS3/Xbox era meant it seemed crippled by that hardware.
That 8th gen. edition delivered significant visual and performance upgrades over the original console releases. It also added the nauseating first-person mode and began a massive expansion of the online ecosystem.
Not That, Unfortunately
The 2022 release of GTA V for 9th gen. systems is not that. Upgrades, while noticeable in side-by-side comparison shots and video capture, aren’t nearly as transformative to the experience.
Rockstar had promised better overall resolutions, framerates and draw distance along with some smaller aesthetic improvements.
While GTA V on PS5 does display all of these, it can be a bit underwhelming outside of a sharp image at a steady 60fps as offered in Performance Mode. At its most aesthetically appealing, in Fidelity Mode, there is an added sharpness when compared to 8th gen. systems.
But as seen in our previous comparison piece the graphics modes offered by PS5 and Xbox Series X there isn’t much between Fidelity and Performance Modes so 60fps will be the preferred mode for many.
A Knock-Down Price
There is a little added visual immersion here and there in the 9th gen. upgrade.
When you take a look at the PC modding community’s efforts in bringing the game in the 2020s, it’s easy to see why many gamers felt a little short-changed by the PS5 upgrade.
Sharper and complex shadows and the added grass, trees and shrubs with increased density. A greater draw distance and better Level of Detail scaling add depth.
Combined with the more general improvements, like resolution, the game world seems slightly more vivid but these are only really appreciable in side-by-side comparisons.
Some improvements and some areas of the game fare better and show the upgrade a little more readily. In particular, outdoor environments with trees, grass and longer vistas might wow a player the odd time.
Is the €19.99 price of GTA V for PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S appropriate? Or is the temporary €9.99 fee on PlayStation a fairer shout seeing versions compare across generations.
