Why Are the PC Versions of the GTA Trilogy Problematic?
Former Rockstar Games employee Obbe Vermeij, as a person who worked in the third and fourth games of the Grand Theft Auto series, explained in detail why the PC versions of the classic GTA trilogy (GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas) have a bad reputation. According to Vermeij, behind the numerous errors and declines in these versions compared to the PlayStation 2 originals lie very specific reasons dating back to the early 2000s.
Vermeij, In his statement on his social media account, stated that at that time the studio could not devote enough time to the physical porting process. During the adaptation of GTA III to PC, artists and designers were already fully focused on the development of Vice City. The PC versions released at that time were not as problematic as today and were considered compliant with technical standards.
Problems Brought by Modern Computers
Vermeij emphasized that the real challenge arose years later with the rapid development of modern computers. At the time, games were designed for specific hardware configurations and resolutions. No one could have predicted that these games would run at high frame rates and much higher resolutions. This situation led to many hidden technical limitations coming to light over time. As a result, the development and preservation of classic versions was largely left to fans. Bugs were fixed and cut content was restored through mods.
Vermeij also stated that the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV has also been subject to criticism, but despite the release of several major patches and the Complete Edition, there are still problems. Owners of modern consoles cannot officially play Niko Bellic's story. According to veteran employee, it's highly unlikely that Rockstar will completely remaster the fourth game. Because textures and cutscenes need to be heavily reworked to make them suitable for the modern market, making the project extremely costly. However, internal sources suggest that if the game is available on new platforms, it will be a simple port without major improvements.
The Future of the GTA Series and Abandoning the Futuristic Theme
Vermeij, in an interview He also shared his views on the future of the series. Stating that Rockstar is not likely to carry Grand Theft Auto to the distant future, Vermeij stated that a futuristic environment created many difficulties during the development of GTA 2. Saying that even basic elements such as weapons had to be redesigned, Vermeij explained that the team decided to return to a more familiar crime aesthetic after the second game and reused Liberty City in GTA III.
The Origin of the Problems in the PC Versions of the Classic GTA Trilogy
Vermeij's statements show that the problems in the PC versions of the classic GTA trilogy are not just due to technical inadequacies. The intensity of the development process and limited resources at that time caused these versions to experience more problems over time. Especially the high performance expectations brought by modern hardware have made it difficult for games to meet demands beyond their original design.
However, the effort the mod community has put into finding solutions to these issues ensures that the games remain playable even today. Thanks to mods, interrupted content is restored, errors are corrected and games are brought into line with modern standards. This provides a great advantage for fans of the classic GTA trilogy.
The Future of GTA IV and Rockstar's Approach
The problems in the PC version of GTA IV also reveal Rockstar's approach to this game. As Vermeij noted, Rockstar is unlikely to take a step in this direction, as a complete restructuring of the game would be a very costly process. However, if the game is available on new platforms, it is thought that a simple port can be made.
This situation also reflects Rockstar's general approach towards its classic games. While the company prefers to focus on its new projects, it is more cautious about adapting old games to modern platforms. This requires fans to continue updating games through mods.
The Future of the GTA Series and Moving Away from the Futuristic Theme
Vermeij's views on the future of the series also explain why Rockstar moved GTA away from a futuristic theme. Difficulties experienced during the development of GTA 2 caused the team to abandon this type of theme. Instead, a more familiar and realistic crime aesthetic was adopted and familiar locations such as Liberty City were used.
This approach played an important role in the success of the series. A realistic world and familiar locations allowed players to connect with the game more easily. This increased the popularity of the GTA series and ensured its continued success for many years.
Conclusion
Obbe Vermeij's statements reveal in detail the reasons behind the problems in the PC versions of the classic GTA trilogy. The intensity of the development process and limited resources at that time caused these versions to experience more problems over time. However, the effort put in by the modding community ensures that the games are playable even today.
Rockstar's approach towards its classic games shows that the company prefers to focus on its new projects. This requires fans to continue updating games through mods. Opinions about the future of the series explain why Rockstar has moved away from a futuristic theme and adopted a more realistic world.
