A Russian modding team, Revolution Team, has released its "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod despite Take-Two Interactive's efforts to remove related YouTube content. This ambitious project transplants the world, cutscenes, and missions of 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City into the engine of 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV.
The modders reported that Take-Two deleted their YouTube channel without prior notice, resulting in the loss of significant content, including a teaser trailer that garnered over 100,000 views in under a day. Despite this setback, they proceeded with the mod's release, acknowledging the emotional toll but prioritizing the fulfillment of their promise to the community.
Initially, the mod required a legitimate copy of GTA IV, a gesture of respect for the publisher. However, due to the YouTube takedown, it was released as a standalone installer to ensure broader accessibility.
Revolution Team emphasizes the mod's non-commercial nature, stating it was created by fans for fans, expressing gratitude to the original game's developers, not the publisher. They express disappointment in Take-Two's actions, suggesting it stifles modding initiatives that could boost interest in classic games.
Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar Games mods is well-documented, creating a strained relationship with the modding community. Previous examples include takedowns of an AI-powered GTA 5 story mode mod, a Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mod, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Ironically, Take-Two has sometimes hired modders subsequently, and some removed mods have preceded official remasters.
Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar Games technical director, offered a corporate perspective, stating that Take-Two's actions are simply protecting its business interests. He argued that the "Vice City Nextgen Edition" directly competes with the GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and projects like the Liberty City Preservation Project could potentially interfere with a hypothetical GTA IV remaster. He suggests that the best outcome is for Take-Two to tolerate mods that don't pose a direct business threat.
The future of the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod remains uncertain, with the question of whether Take-Two will attempt to remove it still hanging in the air.
