GTA V Accessibility — Menu Deep Dive

Ben Bayliss6 minute read

Grand Theft Auto V, otherwise more commonly known as GTA V is one of Rockstar’s most popular titles. So popular that the game is being re-released on PS5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X with improved graphics and performance. While GTA V doesn’t see much in terms of accessibility improvements, we’re taking a look into what’s available from the settings menu.

It’s always worth mentioning ahead of our menu deep dives that what’s available from the settings menus does not mean that a game is or is not accessible. As such, this is to be used more to highlight what features are available that some users may need or desire.

All images and information displayed below are from the launch version and could be subject to change. This edition of GTA V is running on PS5.

Boot Menus

When you first boot up GTA V, there’s not much in terms of accessibility. In fact, the only menu that appears is to adjust your HDR settings if you have an HDR-capable screen. After that you’re sent to the main area where you can either choose to play online, or choose to jump into the story.

From here though, there is an option to open the Settings which invites you to fiddle around before you even load the game modes.

Settings

Controls

The first port of call is throwing you into the controls. From here you’ll see a layout of your controller with the option to switch between different controls schemes for different types of play such as driving, flying, first-person, etc.

  • Targeting Mode
  • Vibration
  • Adaptive Triggers
    • Off
    • Low
    • High
  • Invert Look
  • Third Person / First Person Control Types
    • Standard
    • Alternative
    • Southpaw
    • Alternative + Southpaw
    • Standard FPS
    • Alternative FPS
    • Southpaw FPS
    • Alternative + Southpaw FPS
    • Standard FPS 2
    • Alternative FPS 2
    • Southpaw FPS 2
    • Alternative + Southpaw FPS 2
  • Third Person Aiming Sensitivity
  • First Person Look Around Sensitivity
  • First Person Aiming Sensitivity
  • Third Person Look Around Sensitivity
  • Third Person Aim/Look Deadzone
  • First Person Aim/Look Deadzone
  • Third Person Aim/Look Acceleration
  • First Person Aim/Look Acceleration
  • Allow Movement When Zoomed
  • Switch Handbrake with Duck/Hydraulics
  • Driveby Control Type
    • Aim + Fire
    • Aim
  • Light Bar Effects

Audio

There’s not a whole lot of offerings here with the basic level of audio levels being adjustable. The dialogue boost option is handy for making dialogue stand out more, and the voice chat being able to override vehicle radio stations helps with clarity.

  • Sound Effects Volume
  • Music Volume
  • Dialogue Boost
  • Radio Station
  • Voice Chat
    • Retain Radio Volume
    • Fade Radio Volume
  • Controller Speaker
  • Controller Speaker Volume

Camera

For the camera settings, there’s more choice to adjust how the user feels comfortable when playing. Having field of view is useful for those playing in first person, and the ragdoll effects in first person mode can be disorientating so being able to turn them off is great.

  • Allow Independant Camera Modes
  • Vehicle Camera Height
    • Low
    • High
  • First Person Auto Level Camera
  • First Person On Foot Field of View
  • First Person Ragdoll
  • First Person Combat Roll
  • First Person Head Bobbing
  • First Person Third Person Cover
  • First Person Vehicle Auto-Center
  • First Person Vehicle Hood
  • First Person Driveby Camera Relative to Vehicle

Display

While users can choose to play the game in fancy-pants graphics or performance, there are other options here to adjust the playing experience. Some of these effects being toggled off could help those who find the effects too overwhelming or disorientating.

Subtitles are available, but there’s not option to increase their size, something that the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition had, so its odd not seeing that option here.

  • Graphics Mode
    • Fidelity
    • Performance Ray Tracing
    • Performance
  • Radar
  • HUD
  • Weapon Target
    • Simple
    • Complex
  • Simple Reticule Size
  • GPS Route
  • HDR Calibration
  • In-Game Depth Of Field Effects
  • Screen Kill Effects
  • Subtitles
  • Measurement System

Notifications

  • Phone Alerts
  • Stats Alerts
  • Crew Updates
  • Friend Updates
  • Social Club
  • PlayStation Store
  • Tooltips
  • Message Frequency
    • No Delay
    • 1 Minute
    • 2 Minutes
    • 3 Minutes
    • 4 Minutes
    • 5 Minutes
    • 10 Minutes
    • 15 Minutes
    • 30 Minutes
    • 1 Hour

Rockstar Editor

While there’s not much available from this, users can allow tooltips to be shown while using the editor. This feature allows users to create their own clips or scenes from footage recorded in-game.

Motion Sensor Function

There are a few motion control options on PS5 that make use of the gyroscope with certain vehicles being a bit on the rough side, but a way to reload by flicking the controller instead of hitting the reload button provides an alternative method.

  • Aircraft
  • Bike
  • Boat
  • Reload

GTA V is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X.

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Ben
BaylissEditor-in-ChiefHe/Him

Ben is the one in charge of keeping the content cogs at Can I Play That? turning. Deafness means that he has a focus on discussing captions, but with experience in consultancy and advocacy, he covers what bases he can. Having written about accessibility in video games at DualShockers, GamesRadar+, GamesIndustry.biz, Wireframe, and more he continues his advocacy at CIPT. He was actually awarded a Good Games Writing award for an article he wrote here! He enjoys a range of games, but anything that’s open-world and with a photo mode will probably be his cup of tea. You can get in touch with him at: ben@caniplaythat.com

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