rockstar games said owners of any PlayStation 4 version of Grand Theft Auto V and the digital Xbox One version can upgrade to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S editions for free starting June 18. The move removes the $39.99 entry price that had applied when those current-gen versions first arrived on March 15, 2022.
June 18 changes the buy-in
That free path matters because it moves existing console owners onto the improved editions without another purchase. Those versions include resolutions up to 4K, HDR, ray tracing, improved textures, improved draw distances, and gameplay at up to 60 frames per second, with the PS5 build adding 3D audio and DualSense haptic feedback.
Rockstar announced the change through its Newswire blog, and the timing is practical for players sitting on older copies. Anyone eligible on PS4 can move to PS5, while digital Xbox One owners can move to Xbox Series X/S; story progress from the older console versions can carry over.
PS5 and Series X/S in play
The free upgrade also changes the value of the 2022 console editions, which had been sold as a separate $39.99 product that included GTA Online. By opening the door at no cost now, Rockstar is making the newer console build the default path for current owners instead of a premium add-on.
PC players are getting a separate free upgrade from the Legacy edition to the Enhanced edition, and GTA+ members can play GTA V’s story mode as part of the GTA+ Games Library. Those moves widen access around the same title, but the clearest immediate winner is the PS4 and digital Xbox One base that no longer has to pay to move forward.
Kortz Center Heist and GTA VI
The timing lands alongside an upcoming GTA Online update called The Kortz Center Heist, a big new mission launching in July. Rockstar also has Grand Theft Auto VI scheduled for release on November 19, so this free upgrade keeps GTA V active while the next installment moves closer.
For owners still on the older console versions, the next step is simple: switch to the eligible current-gen edition on June 18 and carry story progress over instead of repurchasing the game. That is the cleanest outcome here — a long-running title gets a new runway, and the price tag finally drops to zero for players already inside the ecosystem.
