A Russian modding group, known as Revolution Team, has boldly released its ambitious project, 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' despite facing YouTube takedowns from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games. This mod impressively ports the entire world, cutscenes, and missions of the 2002 classic, Vice City, into the engine of 2008's GTA 4.
In their video description, the modders expressed frustration over Take-Two's actions, stating that their YouTube channel was "deleted" without any prior warning or attempt at communication. They highlighted the significant effort and time invested in the channel, including hundreds of hours of streams dedicated to the mod's development. The group also lamented the loss of connection with their international audience, particularly after their teaser trailer amassed over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments in less than a day.
The modders described Take-Two's actions as "cruel," but they have accepted the situation due to their inability to influence it. They chose not to comment further to avoid risking the mod's release. The past few days have been emotionally challenging for the team, as they had envisioned a different, more celebratory launch. Despite these setbacks, they successfully released the project on the promised date, though they remain uncertain about how long it will stay publicly available.
Originally, the mod was intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA 4 out of respect for the publisher. However, due to current uncertainties, it was released as a standalone, installation-ready package to ensure stable performance for a broader audience.
Take-Two's history of takedowns related to Rockstar games has strained its relationship with the modding community. The company has previously targeted various mods, including an AI-powered GTA 5 story mode mod and a VR mod for Red Dead Redemption 2. The recent takedown of the Liberty City Preservation Project also follows a pattern, as Rockstar previously issued a takedown for a mod attempting to recreate Vice City within GTA 5.
Interestingly, while Take-Two is known for its aggressive stance against mods, it has occasionally hired talented modders to work at Rockstar Games. Furthermore, some mods have been taken down only for Rockstar to later announce official remasters of those games.
Former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij has defended Take-Two and Rockstar's actions, explaining that the companies are protecting their business interests. He pointed out that the VC NextGen Edition mod competes directly with the Definitive Edition, and the Liberty City preservation project could interfere with a potential GTA 4 remaster.
The modding community and fans are now watching closely to see if Take-Two will attempt to take down the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod itself.
