The physical version of GTA Trilogy on Switch needs a separate download

A retail listing of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition on Switch appears to show that the physical game needs to be partially downloaded.

The Switch version of the game has been listed on the Target website in the US, accompanied by what appears to be the final box art.

The cover includes a small message at the bottom which reads “download required – see back”. The back of the box is not shown, so it’s not yet clear what this download entails.

According to the Switch eShop, “the estimated system space that will be required to download all three games is 22GB”. In theory, then, the game could have comfortably fit in a 32GB cartridge.

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The issue, however, appears to revolve around Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which seems to require a separate download, even with the digital eShop version.

The Definitive Edition is shown on the eShop as a bundle containing its three games as separate products, each marked as ‘not available to purchase’ on their own.

According to each game’s own eShop page, Grand Theft Auto III is 2.2GB and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is 10.8GB, but Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is only 119MB.

Vice City’s page includes an extra message, not included with the other games, which says: “The estimated system space that will be required to download this game is 6.5GB.”

It’s not clear why Vice City is being handled differently – one theory is that there may still be some issues regarding its completion, such as its licensed soundtrack – but VGC has reached out to Rockstar for comment.

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition remasters will launch digitally on November 11, 2021, with a physical release for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch and PS4 on December 7.

“Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition introduces wide-ranging modern control upgrades, including improvements to targeting and lock-on aiming, updated Weapon and Radio Station Wheels, updated Mini-Maps with enhanced navigation allowing players to set waypoints to destinations, updated Achievements, Trophies, and more,” according to Rockstar.

“The Nintendo Switch version also features Switch-specific controls including Gyro aiming, as well as touch screen camera zooming, pans, and menu selections, while the PC version includes support for NVIDIA DLSS and additional new Accomplishments via the Rockstar Games Social Club.”