Defiant Mod Restores Beloved Classic

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' YouTube channel was deleted by Take-Two without warning, resulting in the loss of significant work and community engagement, including a teaser trailer that garnered over 100,000 views in under 24 hours. Despite this setback, the team pressed forward with the release, choosing to prioritize the project's launch over potential further repercussions. Initially intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA IV, the mod is now available as a standalone installation package to ensure wider accessibility.

Revolution Team emphasizes the mod's non-commercial nature, stating it was created by fans for fans and expressing gratitude to the original game's developers. They express disappointment with Take-Two's actions, suggesting the takedown hinders modding initiatives that foster continued interest in classic games.

Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar Games-related mods is well-documented. This includes instances involving AI-powered GTA 5 story mode mods, a Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mod, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has sometimes hired modders for Rockstar Games, and some takedowns have preceded Rockstar's own announcements of remasters.

A former Rockstar Games technical director, Obbe Vermeij, offered a corporate perspective, defending Take-Two's actions as a protection of business interests. He argued that the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" directly competes with the GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and similar projects could interfere with potential future remasters. Vermeij suggests that the best outcome for the modding community is the allowance of mods that don't pose a commercial threat.

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