"Ex-Rockstar Dev Advocates for GTA 4 Remaster: Praises Niko as Top GTA Protagonist"

A former Rockstar veteran has weighed in on the swirling rumors that a re-release of *Grand Theft Auto 4* (GTA 4) for the latest generation of consoles could be on the horizon. Obbe Vermeij, who served as Rockstar Games' technical director from 1995 to 2009 and was involved in the development of GTA 4, responded to these speculations on social media. While he hadn’t heard about the rumors directly, he expressed his belief that GTA 4 "should be remastered." Vermeij praised the game, calling it a great title and pointing to the success of recent remasters like *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* as a potential model. He also shared his fondness for the game's protagonist, Niko, whom he considers the best in any GTA game.

The rumors in question originated from Tez2, a well-known figure within the GTA community for leaking Rockstar information. Tez2 suggested that a modern port of GTA 4 might be released this year, hinting that this project was connected to Rockstar's recent decision to shut down a GTA 5 Liberty City Mod. However, it's crucial to note that Rockstar has not provided any official indication of plans to re-release GTA 4. Such a move would be surprising, especially considering the studio's current focus on the highly anticipated *Grand Theft Auto 6* (GTA 6).

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In terms of how a potential GTA 4 remaster might be executed, Vermeij speculated that Rockstar could port the game to the latest version of the Rage engine, which the company uses for its game development. However, it's important to reiterate that Rockstar has not officially confirmed any plans for a GTA 4 remaster or remake. The development of GTA 6 is a massive undertaking, and adding a remaster project to their plate could be challenging, even for a studio with Rockstar's resources.

Rockstar could potentially delegate the task to an external studio, as it did with the port of *Red Dead Redemption*. Yet, the timing of a GTA 4 re-release in 2025 seems off, especially with GTA 6 slated for an initial fall 2025 release window. Launching both games simultaneously could dilute the focus on GTA 6, which is set to be the main event.

Speaking of settings, some GTA fans speculate that Liberty City, the series' rendition of New York City and the backdrop for GTA 4 and its spin-off *GTA: Chinatown Wars*, might appear in GTA 6 either at launch or as post-launch DLC. GTA 6 is set in the fictional state of Leonida, which encompasses Vice City, the game's version of Miami.

While we await further news, there's plenty more to explore about GTA 6, including all the details we've uncovered so far, a collection of 70 brand new screenshots, and expert opinions on how GTA 6 will perform on the PS5 Pro.