Downloads found on third-party sites labeled as "v1.61 Free" often carry several dangers:

As of April 2026, the primary ways to access the game officially include:

: Owners of the "Legacy" PC version can upgrade to the Enhanced version for free, which adds technical improvements like ray-tracing and faster loading times. Risks of Unofficial "Free v1.61" Downloads

: The game was available on Xbox Game Pass for PC but was recently removed on April 15, 2026 .

: Pirated versions are generally restricted to single-player Story Mode and cannot connect to official GTA Online servers.

: Using pirated versions to attempt online play violates the Rockstar Terms of Service and can result in a permanent ban from Rockstar Online Services.