After the latest update, GTA: San Andreas — Definitive Edition has finally received the improvements fans have been waiting for. Rockstar introduced a "classic lighting" option, bringing back the original warm tones and atmosphere from the 2004 version. This fixes the previously criticized "cold" and "muddy" visuals, restoring the aesthetic charm that made the game iconic. Now, the game looks much closer to the original, which will delight longtime fans​.

Additionally, numerous bugs have been fixed, and the game engine has become more stable. The PC and modern console versions have received updated visuals and tweaks that were first tested on mobile platforms. It seems Rockstar has started to give this trilogy the attention it deserves, much like CD Projekt Red did with Cyberpunk 2077​.

Where the Definitive Edition was once associated with meme-worthy bugs, it now feels like a solid way to dive back into Los Santos. The added nostalgia factor — like watching an old TV with retro visuals but in HD — makes this version genuinely worth another shot. For fans of the series, it's a great time to rediscover this classic with a refreshed and polished experience.

Added gay flags;
Asked for firewall exception;
Not a true remaster

GTA: Definitive Edition, a wave of nostalgia turned into a storm of a rushed product.

The initial idea of giving the trilogy a second life was great, but unfortunately for Rockstar Games, it would have been easier to entrust this task to mobile game developers rather than handling it themselves.

In the end, we’re left with a graphically subpar trilogy. The characters look very plastic, and the environment is overly bright (which was corrected in the latest patch, first released on Netflix, then much later on Steam, by the way).

We also regret that the atmosphere of the original games was not faithfully recreated.

So, who should be blamed? Rockstar for delegating to Grove Street Games, or the latter for not putting more effort into their work?

Anyway, there are still plenty of issues to fix. That said, playing the games is still possible, but you should approach them with caution if you're playing for specific reasons.