The much-anticipated upgrade of GTA 5 for PC has finally landed, attempting to bring the PC experience up to par with the next-gen console versions that players have been enjoying for a while. However, its debut on Steam has received a mixed reception. Some players are thrilled with the new features, but others find themselves struggling with transferring their existing characters into this updated version.
One complaint that really stands out relates to something quite personal for many: communication. As someone who’s no stranger to social anxiety, I completely understand why the absence of in-game text chat has rubbed some long-time players the wrong way. It’s the kind of feature you typically rely on to communicate important instructions or banter with friends—or even recruit new teammates for your latest heist escapade.
If you’ve been following user reviews, a recurring theme is the negative feedback focusing especially on this lack of text chat and other issues concerning performance and graphics. A particular review by a Steam user named KeithTheBat echoes some of these sentiments, claiming Rockstar did the “bare minimum” to improve the game while pushing the integration of GTA+. They pointed out the removal of several features, including text chat in Online mode, the inability to transfer Online characters if your account had certain issues, no aim assist for controllers, and some restricted graphics settings. The integration of GTA+ seems to have taken center stage to the detriment of these other aspects.
KeithTheBat noted the specific inconvenience for those without microphones, wondering how players working on cooperative missions like the “Pacific Standard Job” are expected to communicate effectively. Without text chat, coordinating between drivers and navigators during complex setups becomes quite challenging.
A few players have taken the time to reach out to Rockstar Support for clarity. However, the response confirmed that text chat is not currently supported in the game. Instead, they suggested using platform-specific chat features or texting via the in-game phone, which isn’t exactly ideal.
For players struggling with account migration, Rockstar has addressed this through a post on their support website. They explained that migrations could take some time based on character and service load, and not all profiles are eligible due to reasons like account suspensions or insufficient progress.
It’s important to note that the support for the ‘Legacy’ version of GTA 5 on PC remains unchanged for now, so if you prefer to stick with the version you know, that option is still available—as long as your gaming friends are on board to do the same.
In any case, if Rockstar sticks to their timeline, we might not be too far off from the release of GTA 6. How’s the GTA 5 upgrade treating you? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
