Defiant Modders Release 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' Despite Take-Two Takedown

A Russian modding group, known as Revolution Team, has launched its ambitious 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod despite facing YouTube takedowns from Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games. This mod ingeniously ports the entire world, cutscenes, and missions from the 2002 classic, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, into the engine of 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV.

In their video description, the modders expressed frustration over Take-Two's actions, claiming the company deleted their YouTube channel without any prior warning or communication. They highlighted the significant effort invested in their channel, which included hundreds of hours of streams dedicated to the mod's development. The teaser trailer for the mod had quickly amassed over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments, showcasing their strong connection with an international audience. However, the sudden removal of their channel left them unable to recover it and disconnected from their community.

Despite the emotional toll, the Revolution Team remained focused on their release, which they managed to deliver on the promised date. They acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding how long the mod would remain publicly available, given Take-Two's history of takedowns. Initially, the mod was intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA IV as a nod to the publisher, but due to current uncertainties, it was released as a standalone, installation-ready package to ensure stable performance for a broader audience.

The modders emphasized that their project is free and non-commercial, created by fans for fans, and expressed gratitude towards the original game's developers, not the publisher. They lamented Take-Two's tendency to block modding initiatives that could maintain interest in their iconic games, hoping their project might set a precedent for the modding community.

Take-Two's history with mod takedowns is well-documented, including actions against AI-powered mods for GTA 5 and VR mods for Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as the Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has occasionally hired modders to work at Rockstar Games, and some mods, like the Vice City mod, have been taken down only for Rockstar to later announce remasters of those games.

Former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij defended Take-Two and Rockstar's actions, stating that as a commercial entity, they must protect their business interests. He noted that mods like the VC NextGen Edition could compete with official releases like the Definitive Edition, and projects like the Liberty City preservation could impact potential remasters.

The central question remains whether Take-Two will attempt to take down the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod itself, given their past actions and ongoing tensions with the modding community.