GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition Physical Switch Version Needs A Download
The physical disc version of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch requires an extra download, according to a retail listing. Earlier in October, Rockstar Games announced the long-anticipated GTA: The Trilogy remaster collection in celebration of Grand Theft Auto III's 20th anniversary. The remasters release on November 11 and include GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas in one package, adding high-resolution textures, greater draw distances, revamped lighting and weather effects, and updated controls similar to Grand Theft Auto V's.
GTA: The Trilogy is heading to PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch with the aforementioned improvements, but each version of the remaster trilogy will have slight differences. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions can run at 4K 60fps, and Nvidia DLSS support will boost frame rates and picture clarity even further on PC. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch port will be locked to 30fps along with the Xbox One and PS4 versions, but the Switch touchscreen can be used to navigate menus and gyro aiming will also be supported. The GTA trilogy remasters will presumably have different file sizes for each platform, with Xbox consoles' GTA: Trilogy file sizes clocking in at a total of 49 GB of storage space.
According to a Target listing, the Nintendo Switch box art for GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition reveals the physical Switch version of the game will require an additional Nintendo eShop download (via VGC). A disclaimer on the bottom of the cover art states a download is required and to see the back for details, but the box's rear has can't yet be viewed. The Nintendo eShop officially states GTA: The Trilogy's Switch file size is 25.4 GB. The reason for the extra download for the physical version appears to be tied to GTA: Vice City, which requires an extra download even for buyers of the digital version. According to Nintendo, GTA 3 is 2.2 GB and San Andreas is 10.8 GB. On its own product page, it's shown Vice City takes up an additional 6.5 GB despite it's file size otherwise being listed as 119 MB. No further information accounting for this can be found on the Nintendo site.
While the GTA trilogy's Definitive Edition collection isn't large when compared to modern game downloads, it's still weighty when contrasted with similar remasters and likely speaks to its new textures and switch to the Unreal Engine. Surprisingly, the GTA remaster trilogy's PC version takes up 45 GB and requires players to have a minimum of 2 GB video RAM. This is even a bit higher than GTA 5's PC requirements.
GTA: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition is set to digitally launch on November 11, with the collection also being physically released on December 7. It's unknown why Rockstar is handling GTA: Vice City's physical version on Switch differently than on other platforms, but it will likely be made more clear soon with release lingering close by.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on November 11, 2021, and it will launch on iOS and Android in H1 2022.