A Rockstar veteran explained why the classic GTA trilogy on PC was problematic

Former Rockstar Games employee Obbe Vermeij, who worked on the third through fourth installments of the Grand Theft Auto series, explained why the computer versions of the classic trilogy have earned a reputation for being poor ports. According to him, the numerous bugs and downgrades compared to the PlayStation 2 originals have very specific causes, dating back to the early 2000s.

Vermeij explained that during that period, the studio was physically unable to devote sufficient attention to the porting. While programmers were adapting GTA III for PC, artists and designers were already fully immersed in the creation of Vice City. At the time of release, the computer versions weren't as problematic as they are today and generally met the technical standards of their time.

The main difficulty, he explained, became apparent years later due to the rapid increase in the power of modern computers. Games were developed for specific configurations and resolutions, and no one back then expected them to run at high frame rates and significantly higher resolutions. As a result, many hidden technical limitations became apparent later. Therefore, the development and preservation of classic versions fell largely on the shoulders of enthusiasts, who fixed bugs and restored cut content using mods.

Vermeil also touched on the fate of Grand Theft Auto IV, the PC version of which continues to draw criticism despite several major patches and the release of The Complete Edition. Meanwhile, owners of modern consoles are completely unable to officially play Niko Bellic's story. According to the veteran, Rockstar is unlikely to undertake a full remaster of the fourth game, as it would require significant texture and cutscenes reworks to meet the modern market, making the project extremely expensive. Insiders, however, admit that if the game does appear on new platforms, it will likely be a simple port without significant improvements.

Finally, Vermeil also spoke about the future of the series. He is confident that Rockstar will never move Grand Theft Auto into the distant future. The experience of developing GTA 2 revealed that the futuristic setting presented too many challenges, even requiring the reinvention of basic elements like weapons. That's why, after the second game, the team decided to return to a more familiar criminal aesthetic and reuse Liberty City in GTA III.