Rockstar is Giving Its Most Controversial Remaster a Second Chance on Nintendo Switch

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition - the remaster collection with an embattled history - appears to be getting a proper physical release on Nintendo Switch, addressing one of the biggest complaints players have had since 2021.

A new listing for the compilation of the PS2-era Grand Theft Auto games appeared with updated box art that's missing one crucial element that plagued the original release: the dreaded "Download Required" banner.

When the trilogy first launched in November 2021, it was already controversial - and Nintendo Switch owners got hit with an extra disappointment. While they paid full price for what they thought was a complete physical game, they discovered that Grand Theft Auto Vice City wasn't even on the cartridge.

Players could see the game's startup screen, but then they'd get a message telling them to download the rest. Even Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas required substantial downloads in the form of updates.

This practice has become increasingly common in the industry. Unfortunately, it defeats the entire purpose of buying physical media, especially for collectors who want to preserve games for the future or those with limited internet connectivity.

The new release appears to address these concerns, and here's where it gets even better: the price. While the original version still sells for $60 (though often discounted), this new release is listed at just $29.99. That's a 50% price reduction for what should be a superior product.

Canadian retailer Video Games Plus confirmed they'll be carrying this new version, noting that Rockstar Games has taken over publishing duties from Nintendo. This change in publisher might explain why a new release is happening now. The retailer mentioned they're expecting stock soon and will offer it for $29.99 CAD, which converts to about $21.99 USD.

However, while North American listings show no download requirements, European listings have started appearing with a different label: "Download Code Only. No game card included!" This suggests there might be two different versions releasing simultaneously.

For Switch owners who've been holding out for a proper physical release, this could be the opportunity they've been waiting for. Each game offers dozens of hours of content, making this potentially one of the best value propositions in gaming if all three titles are indeed fully included on the cartridge.

The best part is that it comes after years of updates and patches. The developer Video Games Deluxe took over from the original porting team and released substantial improvements throughout 2023 and 2024. This means buyers would be getting the definitive versions of these games without needing any internet connection.

Speaking of re-released versions of GTA titles, it's still heavily implied that Grand Theft Auto IV is getting a new version for modern platforms sometime within the next twelve months.