Leaked Source Code Used to Get GTA 5 Running on Nintendo Switch

Grand Theft Auto V may have launched around a decade ago, but it’s still one of the biggest and most popular games in the world, with many millions of copies sold and a thriving, if somewhat toxic, online gaming community. However, despite having launched on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and now being playable on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, it never saw an official release on the Nintendo Switch, and let’s be honest, likely never will.

Grand Theft Auto V

However, the Grand Theft Auto V source code was leaked to the public a while back after numerous leaks and hacking scandals that hit Rockstar. With this code, a group of modders have been working to port the game to multiple unsupported devices, such as the Nintendo Switch, Linux and even Android.

The team at Superstar South, obviously a parody of “Rockstar North”, revealed last month that it was working on these ports, and I think it’s fair to say that this is part a grey area and the rest is very much in the red, as this is using stolen code, but ya know… the internet does what it wants.

Nintendo Switch

While the Switch is lacking in hardware, the clip below shows the game running from 27 FPS to 70 FPS, but with a few noticeable losses in fidelity. It does stutter, but apparently, that’s to do with the capture and not the gameplay, and this is with the Switch hardware running in handheld mode and with no overclocking.

There’s still work to be done, but if this game once ran on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the Switch isn’t to be counted out of the race so easily, and with the full source code and a bit of talent, there’s a lot that can be done to optimise the game for this hardware.

Obviously, you can just play it on another device, but if this was ported fully, would you play GTA V on your phone, Switch or Linux?