Vice City Nextgen Edition released amid Take-Two takedown

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

The modders claim Take-Two deleted their YouTube channel without warning, resulting in the loss of hundreds of hours of streamed development footage and a significant portion of their international community. Their teaser trailer alone amassed over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments in under 24 hours before the channel's removal. Despite this setback, they released the mod as planned, acknowledging the emotional toll but prioritizing the project's completion. They initially intended to require a legitimate GTA 4 copy to play, but released it as a standalone installer due to the uncertainty surrounding the takedowns.

Revolution Team insists the mod is entirely free and non-commercial, created by fans for fans. They expressed gratitude to the original game's developers, not the publisher. They view Take-Two's actions as hindering modding initiatives that foster continued interest in classic games, hoping their project might set a precedent for the modding community.

Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar-related mods is well-documented, straining its relationship with the modding community. Past examples include takedowns of 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 takedowns have preceded Rockstar's own remaster announcements.

Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar Games technical director, defended Take-Two's actions, stating that they are protecting their business interests. He argued 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. He suggests that the best hope for the modding community is that Take-Two allows mods that don't pose a direct business threat.

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.