GTA 6: Graphics comparison after three years surprises – not entirely in a good way

The November 19, 2026 release of Grand Theft Auto VI is fast approaching. While a third trailer remains elusive, Rockstar treated fans to three new screenshots on October 8 – and one of them has already sparked a heated discussion on Reddit.

A recent Reddit thread puts a scene from the game's first trailer in 2023 side by side with one of the new screenshots. Both show the same street in Vice City, with the "Hotel Dixon" sign in the background making the location easy to identify. The difference is immediately noticeable. The lighting, in particular, appears to have undergone a major overhaul. Neon signs shine much more brightly, colors look richer and the rain-soaked asphalt is filled with reflections from surrounding light sources.

Many fans see the comparison as evidence of just how much the game has improved. Reddit user u/ChristmasTreePickle suggests that changes like these may be what Rockstar was referring to when it said the release delay would help the studio achieve its desired level of quality. Another user jokes that GTA 6 has come so far that its earlier graphics now look like something from the PS3 era.

Too much of a good thing? Not everyone likes the new look

Others think Rockstar may have pushed the visual effects a little too far. The saturated colors and intense reflections remind some fans of heavily modded versions of GTA 5, where oversized puddles and mirror-like surfaces are often used to make the graphics look as impressive as possible. Reddit user u/Katana_DV20 actually prefers the original version, arguing that it does a better job of capturing Florida's warm, humid atmosphere. The new screenshot, by contrast, looks more like Cyberpunk to them.

Some fans also question whether the comparison is entirely fair. The scenes are captured from different angles, and neither the time of day nor the weather conditions are the same. There is another important distinction: The older image comes from a trailer, while the newer one is a standalone screenshot that may have been captured under particularly favorable conditions.

That also raises the question of what hardware Rockstar used to capture the new images. As previously reported, Digital Foundry has suggested that the unusually sharp ray-traced reflections could indicate that the screenshots were taken on a PS5 Pro, a PC or in a dedicated photo mode. None of these possibilities has been confirmed, however. It therefore remains to be seen how much of this impressive visual quality will carry over into regular gameplay when GTA 6 (available for pre-order on Amazon) launches. Whether the original or updated look is more appealing ultimately comes down to personal preference. Readers are welcome to