Rockstar Games is giving existing Grand Theft Auto 5 owners another reason to return to Los Santos.
Starting June 19, eligible players who own GTA 5 on PlayStation 4 or the digital Xbox One edition will be able to claim the newer PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions without paying an additional upgrade fee.
The announcement comes ahead of The Kortz Centre Heist, a major new GTA Online mission scheduled to arrive in July.
Who Can Claim the Free GTA 5 Upgrade?
The free upgrade will be available to eligible players across consoles and PC.
Players covered by the offer include:
- GTA 5 owners on PlayStation 4
- Owners of the digital Xbox One version
- PC players using the GTA 5 Legacy edition
PS4 players will be able to move to the PS5 version, while digital Xbox One owners can upgrade to the Xbox Series X|S edition.
PC players who still use GTA 5 Legacy will receive access to GTA 5 Enhanced at no additional cost.
Rockstar has not described the offer as a free copy for everyone. It is an upgrade for eligible players who already own a supported version of the game.
What Does the Current-Generation Version Include?
The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S editions of GTA 5 were originally released in March 2022. They introduced several visual and performance improvements that were not available on older consoles.
Depending on the selected graphics mode and platform, the upgraded edition supports:
- Resolution of up to 4K
- Frame rates of up to 60fps
- Improved texture quality
- HDR support
- Ray-tracing features
- Faster loading times
- 3D audio
- Platform-specific controller features
The newer edition also includes access to GTA Online features created for current-generation hardware, including Hao’s Special Works vehicles and performance upgrades.
These additions make the free upgrade particularly useful for players who moved to a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S but continued playing the older console version.
Can Players Transfer Their GTA 5 Progress?
Rockstar is supporting progress migration for both GTA 5 Story Mode and GTA Online.
This means eligible players should be able to move their existing Story Mode save and GTA Online character progress to the current-generation version instead of starting again.
Players should check that they are using the correct Rockstar Games account before beginning the migration. It is also worth reviewing the instructions shown inside the game, as transfer conditions may differ depending on the platform and account history.
Once the newer edition is installed, players will also gain access to Career Progress challenges and rewards available in the current-generation version of GTA Online.
GTA 5 Enhanced Is Also Free for Legacy PC Owners
The announcement is not limited to console players.
Anyone who owns the GTA 5 Legacy edition on PC can access the Enhanced version without buying the game again. GTA 5 Enhanced brings several console-generation improvements to PC while adding features designed for supported computer hardware.
These include ray-traced ambient occlusion and global illumination, along with improved loading and graphical options.
Players with older computers should check the Enhanced edition’s system requirements before installing it. GTA 5 Legacy will remain the more practical option for PCs that cannot run the updated version smoothly.
The Kortz Centre Heist Arrives in July
Rockstar also revealed new details about GTA Online: The Kortz Centre Heist.
The mission will take players to the Kortz Centre in Pacific Bluffs, where they will attempt to steal valuable artwork. Rockstar describes it as a multi-stage operation that requires players to collect information, plan their approach and prepare an escape route.
Access to the heist will require an Art Studio expansion inside a Mansion property.
The setup suggests that players will need to invest in the required property and complete preparation work before beginning the main robbery. More information about the mission structure, rewards and exact release date is expected closer to its July launch.
The Kortz Centre Heist will be released for:
- PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
- PC
This means older-console players will still be able to access the new heist even if they have not moved to a current-generation system.
GTA Online Events Will Build Up to the Heist
Rockstar plans to run a series of GTA Online activities before the July update.
The events are expected to include bonus GTA$ opportunities, discounts on selected in-game items and chances to collect rare artwork through the Fine Art Collector programme.
GTA+ members will also receive additional benefits, including a GTA$2 million discount on Mansion properties. A limited-time bonus on selected Shark Card purchases has also been announced.
Players interested in the upcoming heist may want to use these events to build their in-game balance and prepare for the cost of the required Mansion and Art Studio expansion.
The Free Upgrade Removes a Long-Standing Cost
When the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions launched in 2022, existing console owners did not receive a standard free upgrade. Players generally had to purchase the newer edition separately.
The new offer removes that cost for eligible owners and could bring more returning players onto the current-generation versions before the next major GTA Online update.
The free GTA 5 upgrade will become available on June 19, while The Kortz Centre Heist is scheduled to launch in July. Rockstar has not yet announced the heist’s exact release date.