Top 5 things to change in GTA 5 if it is ported to Android devices

GTA 5 and its online counterpart have been one of the longest-running GTA games in history. Since GTA 6 still has a long way to go, many mobile gamers expect an Android/iOS port of the popular game.

Rockstar Games releasing a mobile port to GTA 5 is, however, very unlikely to happen. While a Switch offering is still likely, HD Universe games won't see an official mobile release anytime soon.

Although there are a few unofficial ports in development, they are quite downgraded compared to the PC/console versions. If a GTA 5 port were to be released right now, it could benefit from many positive changes.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the opinion of its writer.

---

GTA 5: Five changes that an Android port could bring

1) Improved shaders

Since an Android smartphone has inferior technology compared to high-end PCs, running GTA 5 would require some clever adjustments. One method would be to simplify the shaders without making the visuals look bad.

There are many mods for GTA 5 on PC which already utilize such tricks. Reducing the draw distance and NPC population may become necessary, but it doesn't have to be too drastic.

---

2) Improved melee

The melee combat in GTA 5 felt ridiculously overpowered compared to its predecessor. A handheld release could benefit from enhanced melee mechanics since it would feel more immersive on mobiles.

There's no need for some drastic changes to make melee combat enjoyable. A better counterattack and smarter AI would be enough.

---

3) Simplified flying

The flying controls in GTA 5 have gained much criticism. While it may still be manageable on PC/consoles, if the same were to be applied to mobiles, it would be a disaster.

GTA San Andreas for mobile didn't implement flight controls properly, ending up with lesser precision than the PC/console editions.

---

4) Target lock

GTA 5 simplified many aspects of its gameplay compared to its predecessors, including driving, general combat, and even aiming, adding a new assisted aiming feature.

Aiming with the mobile touchscreen is quite difficult for most players. Since GTA 5 is a single-player game, it could benefit from having an even more simplified assisted aiming that locks onto targets like 3D Universe games on Android.

---

5) Voice navigation

Voice-assisted navigation was a novel feature introduced in GTA 4. It made driving high-end vehicles a different experience altogether, as players could focus on the road instead of the minimap.

Since a mobile screen is much smaller, it can be pretty tricky to keep track of the minimap constantly. Thus, voice-assisted navigation would be a much-needed feature if an Android version of GTA 5 were to implement it.