A Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition hacker recently uncovered touchscreen controls within the game’s code, strengthening theories that the remastered collection is a highly modified and coated version of Grove Street Games’ mobile game ports. Prior to its launch, fans expressed their concern over the makings of the collection due to its developer’s poor track record. Additionally, a batch of pre-release GTA trilogy remaster screenshots were criticized for including an exceeding amount of mistakes and an overall unpolished appearance. Grove Street Games is primarily known for releasing messy ports, most importantly the infamous PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – later ported onto mobile and PC – and some feared the Definitive Edition would see a similarly ill-fated launch.
Series developer Rockstar Games announced the long-rumored GTA remaster trilogy in October in celebration of Grand Theft Auto III‘s 20th anniversary, and promised overhauled versions of the three groundbreaking classics – Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rockstar explained the remastered trilogy would have graphical enhancements, a variety of general improvements and modernized controls similar to Grand Theft Auto V. Though information remained scant with its first full trailer, the pre-release gameplay leaked online led to overwhelmingly negative early impressions from fans – many of whom criticized the GTA trilogy remaster for appearing as a refurbished version of the previously ill-recieved mobile ports. This was further reinforced by the San Andreas remaster, which kept the mobile port’s simplified touchscreen controls for its mini-games.
Shared on Twitter, popular Grand Theft Auto investigator and hacker Vadim M. revealed new information that corroborates claims the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is a collection of previously released, highly modified GTA mobile ports. The investigator claims there is still a touch control widget hidden in The Definitive Edition‘s code that allows players to choose between analog, button, or flick controls. This same widget was previously shown in Vadim M.’s video of San Andreas‘ infamous PS3 port, and originally appeared in the mobile port as an accessibility setting so players can easily navigate mobile device touchscreen features.
Problems with The Definitive Edition continue to grow nearly every day with no word from Rockstar Games besides a promise for future updates. This appears to motivate modders to step-in and improve the remastered collection’s technical issues and overall quality of life. Just recently, modders released a new version of the CLEO plug-in for GTA: San Andreas remaster that allows both players and modders to easily download or enhance the game with modifications. This can be used as a valuable source to improve the collection’s ongoing issues – and will likely be added to GTA III and Vice City in the future.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition‘s hidden touchscreen controls are only one of many bizarre discoveries since its initial release earlier this month. This new touchscreen development, however, seems to mark a new low; seeing as it appears Rockstar Games didn’t take Grove Streets Games’ troubled history into account when choosing a studio to put together a remaster collection. Nonetheless, improvement updates are on the way, and the studio could possibly redeem itself in the future.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition is now available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It will launch separately on iOS and Android in 2022.