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

A Russian modding team, 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 streamed development footage and a significant portion of their community. The teaser trailer alone garnered over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments before the takedown. While initially intending to require a legitimate GTA 4 copy, the mod is now released as a standalone installer to ensure wider accessibility given the circumstances.

Revolution Team maintains the mod is entirely free and non-commercial, created by fans for fans. They express gratitude to the original game's developers, criticizing Take-Two's actions as hindering modding initiatives that foster continued interest in their classic titles. They suggest their project might set a precedent for the modding community.

Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar-related mods is well-documented, including instances involving AI-powered GTA 5 mods, a Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mod, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has sometimes hired modders, and the takedown of certain mods has preceded Rockstar's announcements of remasters of the same games.

A former Rockstar technical director, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's actions, stating that the company is simply protecting its business interests. He argues that mods like the Vice City Nextgen Edition directly compete with the GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and the Liberty City Preservation Project could interfere with a potential GTA 4 remaster. He suggests that the best outcome is for Take-Two to tolerate mods that don't pose a direct commercial 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.