Defiant Modders Release 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' Despite Take-Two Takedown

A Russian modding team, Revolution Team, has released its "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod despite facing YouTube takedowns by Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games' parent company. This ambitious project transplants Vice City's world, cutscenes, and missions from 2002 into the GTA 4 engine (2008).

The modders' YouTube channel was unexpectedly deleted by Take-Two, resulting in the loss of significant content, including hundreds of hours of development streams and a teaser trailer that garnered over 100,000 views in under a day. Despite this setback, the team proceeded with the mod's release, prioritizing the promised launch date. They acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the mod's long-term availability and the possibility of further takedown requests, but they remain resolute.

Initially planned to require a legitimate GTA 4 copy, the mod is now released as a standalone installer to ensure broader accessibility given the circumstances. Revolution Team emphasizes the project's non-commercial nature, created by fans for fans, and expresses gratitude to the original game's developers, not the publisher. They hope their work might influence Take-Two's approach to modding initiatives.

Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar-related mods is well-documented, straining its relationship with the modding community. Previous examples include takedowns of an AI-powered GTA 5 story mode mod, a VR mod for Red Dead Redemption 2, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has sometimes hired modders for Rockstar, and some removed mods have later been followed by official remasters.

Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar Games technical director, offered a corporate perspective, stating that Take-Two's actions are aimed at protecting its business interests. He cited the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" as potentially competing with the "Definitive Edition" and the Liberty City Preservation Project as possibly interfering with a potential GTA 4 remaster. He suggests that the best outcome is for Take-Two to tolerate mods that don't directly impact their commercial ventures.

The future of the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod remains uncertain, with the question of whether Take-Two will pursue its removal still unanswered.