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 Vice City's world, cutscenes, and missions into the GTA 4 engine.
The modders' YouTube channel was deleted without warning, resulting in the loss of hundreds of hours of streaming content and a significant portion of their community. The teaser trailer alone garnered over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments in under 24 hours before the takedown. While frustrated by Take-Two's actions, the team proceeded with the mod's release as planned, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding its long-term availability.
Initially intended to require a legitimate GTA 4 copy, the mod is now released as a standalone installer to maximize accessibility given the circumstances. The team emphasizes the mod's non-commercial nature, created by fans for fans, and expresses gratitude to the original game's developers (not the publisher). They hope their project will serve as a precedent for the modding community.
Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar-related mods is well-documented. Past examples include an AI-powered GTA 5 story mode mod, a Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mod, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has sometimes hired modders subsequently, and some takedowns have preceded Rockstar's announcements of remasters of the same games.
A former Rockstar Games technical director, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's actions, stating that the company is protecting its business interests. He pointed out that the "Vice City Nextgen Edition" directly competes with the "Definitive Edition," and projects like the Liberty City Preservation Project could interfere with a potential GTA 4 remaster. Vermeij suggested that the best hope for the modding community is for Take-Two to tolerate mods that don't pose a direct commercial threat.
The question remains whether Take-Two will pursue further action to remove the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod itself.
