The Return of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition has made a comeback in a new physical edition for Nintendo Switch after its initial release three years ago. This release stands out for two big reasons: a reduced MSRP of $30, half the original launch price, and the inclusion of all three games directly on the Switch game card.
Currently, Amazon is the only major US retailer listing the updated edition, though more stores might follow in the future. Amazon’s delivery estimate ranges from one to two months, likely due to stock not yet being on hand. As a precaution, buyers should ensure they are selecting the new version. The older edition, still listed by some retailers, can be identified by a “Download required” label next to the ESRB rating, a disclaimer absent from the new release.
The original physical edition only contained GTA III and San Andreas on the cartridge, requiring players to download Vice City from the eShop. With that download and game updates, players typically needed to grab nearly 10GB of extra data. The new edition eliminates this requirement, offering a complete experience straight from the card.
The trilogy includes three PlayStation 2 era classics: GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. While the 2021 launch faced criticism for performance and visual issues, Rockstar made substantial improvements with a major console update last fall. The Switch version is not flawless, but it is in far better shape than at release.
It remains uncertain whether the Switch eShop price will match the physical edition’s $30 cost. For now, this is a rare case where the physical version of a Nintendo Switch game is both more complete and cheaper than its digital counterpart.