A Russian modding group, Revolution Team, has released its ambitious "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod, defying takedown attempts by Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games' parent company. This impressive mod 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 revealed that Take-Two deleted their YouTube channel without warning, resulting in the loss of hundreds of hours of streaming content and a significant portion of their international community. Despite this setback, and the emotional toll it took on the team, they successfully released the mod as planned. They acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding its long-term availability but remain unopposed to reuploads, though they won't actively encourage them.
Initially intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA IV as a sign of respect for the publisher, the mod is now released as a standalone installer to ensure wider accessibility, given the circumstances. Revolution Team emphasizes the mod's non-commercial nature, created by fans for fans, expressing gratitude to the original game's developers, not the publisher. They hope their project will serve as a precedent for the modding community, challenging 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. Past examples include actions against 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 for Rockstar Games, and some mods, like this Vice City mod, have been taken down only to see Rockstar later announce remasters of those very games.
Former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij offered a corporate perspective, defending Take-Two and Rockstar's actions as a protection of their business interests. He cited the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod's potential competition with the GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition and the Liberty City Preservation Project's potential interference with a possible GTA IV remaster as justification for the takedowns. He noted that while Take-Two's approach can be frustrating, it's ultimately a standard business practice, expressing hope for a more lenient approach towards mods that don't directly compete with their products.
The question remains: will Take-Two attempt to remove the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod itself? The ongoing conflict highlights the complex relationship between game publishers, their intellectual property, and the passionate modding communities that often contribute significantly to the longevity and appeal of their games.
