Do I have to buy GTA 5 again for Xbox Series S?
As a hardcore gamer and industry insider, this is one of the most common questions I‘ve been getting lately.
The short answer? Yes, you do need to buy GTA V again to experience all of the juicy next-gen upgrades on Xbox Series S – even if you already own the game on Xbox One.
But don‘t worry, I‘ve got you covered with all the nitty gritty details in this comprehensive guide! There‘s actually some great news on carrying over your existing GTA Online progress.
Bask in GTA V‘s Next-Gen Glory for a Price
After redefining open-world gameplay for the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, GTA V has now been remastered to shine on next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series S/X.
We‘re talking a massive visual overhaul, with up to 60 FPS gameplay, improved draw distances, enhanced textures, a range of graphical effects, and lightning-fast loading times.
Grove Street never looked so good! [Source: Xbox Wire]
This is thanks to the Xbox Series S/X powering past outdated hardware limitations – their cutting-edge tech unlocks GTA V‘s full potential!
But there‘s a catch: this remastered version is sold separately as a true next-gen title. So even if you own GTA V on Xbox One, you gotta pony up for the Series S/X edition.
However, considering the massive visual and technical overhaul, plus ongoing content updates to GTA Online, paying for next-gen greatness is worth every penny in my book!
Performance Benchmarks
Let‘s look at some telling performance benchmarks comparing GTA V on Xbox One vs Xbox Series X:
| Xbox One | Xbox Series X | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p | 4K |
| Frame Rate | 30 FPS | 60 FPS |
| Texture Quality | Low | Ultra |
| Load Times | 1m 30s | 14 seconds! |
With performance gains like these thanks to next-gen hardware, paying for the upgrade is a no-brainer in my eyes.
Carrying Over Your Valuable GTA Online Progress
Now for the best bit of news – you can continue your GTA Online journey on Xbox Series S by transferring over your character progress and purchases!
This way you can directly move across your hard-earned (and bought) gear collected from countless hours grinding away on Xbox One.
Here is the full step-by-step guide to transfer your data:
- Boot up GTA Online on your Xbox One console
- Head to the Game tab in the Pause Menu
- Select the "Upload Save Game" option and confirm
- On your shiny new Xbox Series S/X system, launch GTA Online and download the migrated data!
And that‘s it! Just be aware this is a one-time migration, so it will completely erase the GTA Online data from your old Xbox One.
But between the visual enhancements and bringing your online progress to next-gen, it is more than worth it.
The only downside is players on PC or legacy consoles unfortunately miss out on transferring across.
Enjoy Xbox One Games with Limited Backwards Compatibility
As the Xbox Series S ditches physical discs, you cannot directly play Xbox One game discs. Digital is the only way forward!
However, your full digital Xbox One game library is playable on Xbox Series S thanks to Microsoft‘s stellar backwards compatibility program.
This includes downloaded copies of GTA V for Xbox One! But they will not get you those juicy next-gen upgrades outlined earlier.
You‘ll get faster load times and more steady performance due to the Series S hardware boosts, but Xbox One visuals and frame-rate caps remain in place.
So by all means blast through GTA V‘s epic story mode if you already own it digitally! But brace yourself for another purchase if you want to experience GTA Online with 60 FPS, 4K resolution and seamlessly loading open world.
Is the Xbox Series S Worth it for GTA V?
In closing, I strongly believe the Xbox Series S offers an incredible next-gen experience that lets GTA V shine brighter than ever – easily justifying rebuying the game.
For budget-focused gamers, the Series S delivers a massive generational leap over Xbox One without breaking the bank. You enjoy near equivalent performance to the flagship Xbox Series X, just without 4K resolution.
Combine this with transferring over your entire GTA Online progress, and there is no better time to jump into next-gen! With the Series S hardware unchaining it from aging limitations, GTA V‘s sublime open world and action finally lives up to its full potential.
So hopefully this clears up whether you need to repurchase GTA V on this unlocked beast of a budget console – if you have any other questions, sound off below and I‘ll get back to you!
