In an impressive achievement, a group of dedicated modders has managed to get the seminal open-world game Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) running on the Nintendo Switch, a feat made possible by the leak of the game’s source code last year. The modding team, known as Superstar South, has released footage showcasing their unofficial port of GTA 5 on the Switch.
The two-minute clip, posted on the official X/Twitter account of Superstar South, provides a glimpse of GTA V running on the Nintendo Switch. While the team announced their plans to create an unofficial port of GTA 5 for the Switch, Linux, and Android back in March, the recent footage serves as a testament to their progress.
The project’s foundation lies in the source code that has been circulating publicly for at least a year, following a series of major hacks that targeted Rockstar Games, the developers behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise. One of these hacks resulted in the leak of materials from the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.
Obviously you want to at least see how far we got…
(the recording is not as smooth when compared to hardware video output) pic.twitter.com/y0oSRterbD
— Superstar South (@SuperstarS31668) April 17, 2024
As expected, the Switch’s technical specifications present challenges in running a demanding game like GTA 5. The footage reveals a noticeable dip in visual fidelity, as well as lagging and a frame rate that fluctuates between 70 and 27 frames per second. Superstar South clarified that the Switch was running at a handheld mode clock rate with no overclocking enabled, which may contribute to the performance issues.
Grand Theft Auto 5, initially released in 2013 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, has since been ported to various platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and most recently, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022. However, a native version for the Nintendo Switch has never been officially released, leaving fans of the hybrid console craving the experience.
While the modding team’s efforts are commendable, it is unlikely that their version of GTA V for the Switch will ever see an official release. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has a history of cracking down on unauthorized projects, as evidenced by last year’s incident where a modder working on an AI-powered GTA 5 Story Mod received a copyright claim and had their video demonstrating the mod removed from NexusMods.
Nonetheless, the Superstar South team’s achievement highlights the dedication and ingenuity of the modding community, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with existing hardware and software. As the modding scene continues to thrive, fans can look forward to more innovative projects that breathe new life into beloved games.
