A Russian modding group, known as Revolution Team, has launched its ambitious 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' despite facing YouTube takedowns from Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive. This mod impressively transplants the world, cutscenes, and missions from the 2002 classic, Vice City, into the 2008 engine of GTA 4.
In their video description, the modders expressed frustration over the sudden deletion of their YouTube channel by Take-Two, without any prior warning or attempt at communication. They highlighted the significant time and effort invested into the channel, which included hundreds of hours of streams dedicated to the mod's development. The loss of their channel also severed their connection with an international audience, particularly after a teaser trailer for the mod garnered over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments in less than a day. Despite the setback, the mod was released on schedule, though the team remains uncertain about its longevity due to potential further actions by Take-Two.
Originally, the mod was intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA 4 to play, as a gesture of respect to the publisher. However, due to recent uncertainties, the mod was released as a standalone, installation-ready package to ensure stability and accessibility for a broader audience.
Revolution Team emphasized that their project is a non-commercial endeavor created by fans for fans, and they expressed gratitude to the original game's developers, not the publisher. They lamented Take-Two's tendency to block modding initiatives that could keep interest alive in their iconic games, hoping their project might set a precedent for the modding community.
Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns against mods 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, which attempted to recreate Vice City within GTA 5, is another example of this ongoing tension.
Interestingly, Take-Two sometimes hires modders it has previously targeted, and some mods, like the Vice City mod, have been taken down only for Rockstar to later announce official remasters. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's actions, stating that the company is protecting its business interests. He pointed out that the 'VC NextGen Edition' mod for GTA 4 competes directly with the Definitive Edition, and the Liberty City project could interfere with a potential GTA 4 remaster.
The key question moving forward is whether Take-Two will attempt to take down the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod itself.
