A Russian modding group, 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 Vice City's world, cutscenes, and missions into the GTA 4 engine.
The modders' YouTube channel was deleted without warning, resulting in the loss of hundreds of hours of streaming content and a significant portion of their community. Despite this setback, the team persevered, releasing the mod as planned. Initially intended to require a legitimate GTA 4 copy, the mod is now available as a standalone installation package to ensure broader accessibility.
Revolution Team emphasizes the mod's non-commercial nature, created by fans for fans, expressing gratitude to the original game's developers. They hope their project will encourage Take-Two to reconsider its stance on modding initiatives that foster continued interest in classic games.
Take-Two's history of removing mods is well-documented, often leading to strained relations 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 Games, and some removed mods have later inspired official remasters.
A former Rockstar Games technical director, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's actions, stating that the company is simply protecting its business interests. He suggested that the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod directly competes with the "Definitive Edition," and projects like the Liberty City Preservation Project could interfere with potential future remasters. Vermeij argued that while frustrating, this is standard corporate behavior, and the modding community should focus on mods that don't pose a direct threat to Take-Two's commercial interests.
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.
