PlayStation 3 digital download edition of Grand Theft Auto 5 faces streaming issues

Remember the streaming issues plaguing the Xbox 360 version of Grand Theft Auto 5 when you install the Play disc to the HDD? Apparently, the same issue has manifested itself in a different form on the PlayStation 3 version of the game. Don't worry if you own the disc, though. This only seems to affect those who picked up the PlayStation Network version of the game. Eurogamer did a few tests where it compared the disc version and the digital download version of Grand Theft Auto 5.

Eurogamer's Digital Foundry tested the opening cutscene of GTA 5, as well as actual gameplay. During the opening cutscene, ground textures pop in half a second late and shadow maps and minor objects like grass load too late. In the gameplay, issues only seem to pop up when you're traveling ultra-fast through the streets. Textures on buildings pop in a bit late, and at one point, an entire building started glitching out.

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This is presumably because of the streaming technology that Rockstar has employed with GTA 5. The extra bandwidth afforded from streaming from both the disc as well as the HDD seems to be better for the game when compared to just streaming from the HDD. This is especially bad since the digital release of GTA 5 is more expensive than the retail release.

Grand Theft Auto 5 has been quite successful. Rockstar’s parent company Take-Two Interactive revealed that the game sold the highest number of copies on day one in the history of the company and the franchise. The game hit stores a couple of days ago on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and managed to make $800 million worldwide (not counting Brazil and Japan, where the game hasn’t been released yet) on the first day itself.

GTA 5 is currently out on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for Rs 2,999.