A Russian modding group known as Revolution Team has released its ambitious 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' despite facing YouTube takedowns by Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive. The mod ambitiously ports the entire world, cutscenes, and missions from the 2002 classic, Vice City, into the 2008 game, Grand Theft Auto 4.
In a statement, the modders expressed frustration over Take-Two's actions, claiming that their YouTube channel was "deleted" without any prior warning or communication. They highlighted the significant effort and time invested in the channel, which included hundreds of hours of streams dedicated to the mod's development. The group also lamented the loss of connection with their international audience, noting that a teaser trailer for the mod had amassed over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments within a day before the channel's removal.
The modders described the takedown as a "cruel move" but accepted the situation, choosing not to comment further to avoid risking the mod's release. They acknowledged the emotional toll of the past few days, as they had envisioned a more celebratory launch. Despite these challenges, they successfully released the mod on the promised date, though they expressed uncertainty about its longevity due to potential further actions by Take-Two.
Originally, the mod was intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA 4 as a show of respect to the publisher, but due to current uncertainties, it was released as a standalone, installation-ready package to ensure stable performance for a wider audience.
Revolution Team emphasized that the mod is free and created by fans for fans, expressing gratitude to the original game's developers but not the publisher. They criticized Take-Two for blocking modding initiatives that aim to keep interest in iconic games alive, hoping their project might set a precedent for the modding community.
Take-Two's history of targeting mods related to Rockstar games is well-documented, with takedowns of various mods including 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 and even released remasters of games after takedowns.
A former Rockstar Games technical director, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two and Rockstar's actions, stating that they are protecting their business interests. He pointed out that the 'VC NextGen Edition' mod competes with the Definitive Edition, and the Liberty City preservation project could interfere with a potential GTA 4 remaster.
The key question now is whether Take-Two will move to take down the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod itself, given their history and stance on such projects.
