Why GTA Online and next-gen consoles deserve each other

Grand Theft Auto V scoffs at your next-gen consoles, declaring that the 360 and PS3 can still do some amazing things. The graphical detail and scope of Los Santos is pretty impressive, even on aging hardware. Sure, the game would still look much sharper on PS4, Xbox One, or *gasp* a decent gaming PC, but these dinosaurs get the job done. Graphically, GTA V is what I’d call “perfectly fine, even impressive” on current gen consoles. Where the consoles start to show their age, in some subtle and not-so subtle ways, is when you load up GTA Online.

[Donnieboi]

I always assumed that the reason why the graphics are less impressive, and there being a lot less npc's and traffic than the campaign had something to do with the fact that the whole city has to be streamed via internet. I didn't think it was due to cobsole limitations since the cobsoles handled Los Santos just fine. In fact, I notice that the graphics are improved when I play a mission alone, or if I play the roaming mode in solo mode. It looks as good as campaign when I do that. But once i'm in a full online city, the graphics drop and the npc's/traffic are not plentiful.

[GarrusVakarian]

I only play in a group of 3-5, so the graphics are always pretty good but yeah i have definitely noticed a drop in NPC's and traffic when i occasionally get put into a full server.

I would love a next gen version of GTAO, the smoother framerate and higher fidelity would be great.

@XB1_PS4:
Yeah ive noticed that too, which im guessing is the reason why the vehicles don't seem to have as high top speeds than other GTA games, there's no screen wobbling or blurring because you are going so fast like in past games.

[XB1_PS4]

Ive driven in my adder so fast that I was beating the texture load time. I was in an area of blank texture.

[talhat2]

I hope GTA online comes to next gen, just imagine more players, less building pop ups, better graphics and a locked framerate .

[GarrusVakarian]

I would only really care about the better graphics part. I don't really see the appeal of the more people part because most game modes would feel over crowded with too many people (some do with 16). The only time that would be fun would be if you just mindlessly ran round in free roam.