Rockstar Games have a today published a newswire article in which they apologise for the launch of the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

The trilogy has been met with resounding criticism, mostly in regards to the visual changes made and unstable performance across most platforms as well as various bugs and glitches.

Rockstar Games go on to say that the new collection "did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect" and to reassure people that updates to the titles are in the works.

In a surprise move they are also planning to reinstate the original PC versions of the 3 titles to the Rockstar Games Store. No word on whether they will also become available again on other digital storefronts or not.

Hi everyone,

We want to provide an update regarding the unexpected technical issues that came to light as part of the launch of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

Firstly, we want to sincerely apologize to everyone who has encountered issues playing these games.

The Grand Theft Auto series — and the games that make up this iconic trilogy — are as special to us as we know they are to fans around the world. The updated versions of these classic games did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect.

We have ongoing plans to address the technical issues and to improve each game going forward. With each planned update, the games will reach the level of quality that they deserve to be.

A new Title Update is on the way in the coming days for all versions of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition that will address a number of issues. We will update everyone as soon as it is live.

In the meantime, it pains us to mention that we are hearing reports of members of the development teams being harassed on social media. We would kindly ask our community to please maintain a respectful and civil discourse around this release as we work through these issues.

While one of the goals of the Definitive Editions was to allow players to enjoy these games on modern platforms for many years to come, we also understand that some of you would still like to have the previous classic versions available for purchase.

We will be adding the classic PC versions of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas back to the Rockstar Store shortly as a bundle. Additionally, everyone who has purchased Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for PC from the Rockstar Store through June 30, 2022, will receive these classic versions in their Rockstar Games Launcher library at no additional cost. We will update everyone as soon as these are back in the Rockstar Store.

Once again, we'd like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work through these updates to ensure these games meet everyone's justifiably high standards.

Sincerely,
Rockstar Games

Source

 

[James_]

Well at least they listened well to the backlash. That and relisting the original versions (and giving the people who got the 'definitive edition' the originals) is a good move.

Now let's just hope they put the original bundle back on Steam...

 

[DinohScene]

Half arsed apology for a half arsed port.

Typical Rockstar.

 

[FAST6191]

"did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect"
Because this was a "whoops Jenkins put up the beta build" type deal?

 

[Kioku]

Well at least they listened well. That and relisting the original versions (and giving the people who got the 'definitive edition' the originals) is a good move.

Now let's just hope they put the original bundle back on Steam...

This is inexcusable. It shouldn't have been released in such a state. A good move would have been properly QC testing it beforehand.

 

[MiiJack]

Thankfully they did a big misstep cough main.scm cough that helps in modding the game.

 

[K3Nv2]

I'm highly dissatisfied with what they did to Ryders back yard, he isn't that lazy.

 

[MadMakuFuuma]

theory: "we take down all the mods (and moders) and people will buy our crap remaster we impose, muahahahaha" reality: backlash, inumerous youtuber videos explaining why rockstar remaster is garbage, famous speedrunners talking how the remaster sucks at each streaming, etc.

 

[James_]

This is inexcusable. It shouldn't have been released in such a state. A good move would have been properly QC testing it beforehand.

Yeah, that's true, the games obviously weren't in a good state when they released. Some companies really gotta hire more play testers.

Probably one of my favourite things to happen from this mess is Vargskelethor Joel drinking so much Sprunk, it broke San Andreas' game files.

 

[MikaDubbz]

Good on them from acknowledging the issue and relisting the originals. Now if only they'd back off of shutting down the reverse engineering projects of these games, especially since you still have to buy a copy of each game to play the reverse engineered builds regardless.

 

[Smoker1]

Hell, GTA3, at the start, go to where you would normally go to do the L Missions (pickup the Girl at the Hospital, and whatever). Jump to miss the Marker, then go up the Stairs to the Billboards, giving you a vantage point. Whip out the Rocket Launcher, and try to launch a Rocket at something.........notice how it did not get very far, and you are low on Health, Armor, or now at the Hospital?????? Plus, you drive around, and hitting Invisible Objects???????

 

[the_randomizer]

What did they expect to happen?

 

[XDel]

I got a better idea, why not pull off those charges Rockstar put against the guys doing reversed engineered (and superior) ports of their games, and let the fans have their fun. Freaking greedy ass twats!

 

[Dubbicakes]

Their first act should be to fire Grove Street Games, it's clear to see that they don't have a competent developer on the entire staff. The engine is a mess based on piss poor mobile ports, the art direction is a joke, and the assets are just learned Blender on DeviantArt bad. Rockstar should be embarrassed bidding the pennies they did on the cheapest studio possible to port their games.

 

[HarveyHouston]

Sex, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, violence, blood, spilled guts, stealing, nudity, explicit language... and now bugs and glitches.

Note the heavy sarcasm when I say that THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST GAME SERIES EVERRRRR!!!!!

Even so, it must be frustrating to work so hard on a game series, put your heart and soul into making it the best you can ever make it, and then... this. Makes me think of another developer who works hard on games only for them to turn out buggy. It's a shame, really.

...Not that I actually like GTA, though.

 

[Axido]

Yeah, that's true, the games obviously weren't in a good state when they released. Some companies really gotta hire more play testers.

Probably one of my favourite things to happen from this mess is Vargskelethor Joel drinking so much Sprunk, it broke San Andreas' game files.

View attachment 285726

I just want to inform you that this is also a problem in the original versions. Something like this happened to me twice on PC recently. Seems like the game doesn't like you to get fat by using vending machines excessively.

 

[eyeliner]

So, it wasn't at the quality standard... But it still released.

Insert that lolwut pic somewhere, please...

 

[|<roni&g]

Pathetic. The remasters should be a giveaway @ this point with digital purchases refund as shark card credit on GTAV, which I'd still be pissed at but it'd be somethin if they wouldn't give the actual currency back.
Zero excuses but sheepeople will flock for the next one

 

[Zense]

I was gonna leave your typical sarcastic comment, but I care more about getting this message across:

This sort of vague confession rhetoric:

The updated versions of these classic games did not launch in a state that meets our own standards of quality, or the standards our fans have come to expect.

plays a big part in leading to this:

In the meantime, it pains us to mention that we are hearing reports of members of the development teams being harassed on social media.

If they could at least have the balls to say what no one else in the industry does (and this would be in line with the sort of attitude they've always been trying to act like they have with their controversial games) and rather admit that:

We cut too many corners in the budget, and this made it impossible for the dev team to meet the standard that the audience expected.

Then we might start moving towards not having this problem of people being singled out instead of an entity like a game company. Would this mean that Rockstar Games' reputation would take a hit? Possibly. Would that be right? Yes, if you compare it to right now how individual employees end up with the backlash. Not saying anyone should be threatened, but the blame should be directed at someone else than the devs.

Why is it so hard to say this instead of trying to cover yourself with such a vague admission about it not lauching in a state that meets your own standards? Saying this leads a lot of people interpreting it as being the dev team's fault for being amateurs or lazy or whatever.

 

[ut2k4master]

Now let's just hope they put the original bundle back on Steam...

rockstar launcher only