A Russian modding group, Revolution Team, has unveiled its ambitious 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' despite facing YouTube takedowns from Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games. This mod transports the iconic world, cutscenes, and missions from the 2002 classic, Vice City, into the more advanced 2008 engine of GTA 4.
In a video description, the modders expressed their frustration over Take-Two's actions, stating that their YouTube channel was "deleted" without any prior warning or attempt at communication. The group highlighted the significant effort and time invested in their channel, which included hundreds of hours of streams dedicated to the mod's development. The removal of the channel severed their connection with an 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 move as "cruel" but accepted the situation, choosing to focus on the successful release of their project on the promised date. They expressed uncertainty about how long the mod would remain publicly available and hinted at potential demands for its takedown. While they did not openly encourage reuploads, they left the decision to the community.
Originally, the mod was designed to require a legitimate copy of GTA 4, as a gesture of respect to the publisher. However, due to recent uncertainties, the modders released it as a standalone, installation-ready package to ensure stable performance for a broader audience.
Take-Two's history of targeting mods related to Rockstar games has strained its relationship with the modding community. The company has previously requested the removal of 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 further exemplifies this trend.
Interestingly, Take-Two has occasionally hired modders to work at Rockstar Games, and some mods, like the Vice City mod, were taken down only for Rockstar to later announce remasters of those games. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended the company's actions, emphasizing that Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their business interests. He noted 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 situation raises the question of whether Take-Two will attempt to remove the mod itself, continuing its pattern of protecting its commercial interests.
