A Russian modding group, known as Revolution Team, has released its ambitious 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' despite facing YouTube takedowns from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games. This mod meticulously ports the world, cutscenes, and missions from the 2002 classic, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, into the 2008 game, Grand Theft Auto IV.
In a detailed statement, the modders expressed their frustration over the sudden removal of their YouTube channel by Take-Two, without prior warning or attempts at communication. They highlighted the significant effort and time invested in their channel, including numerous streaming hours dedicated to the mod's development. The team also lamented the loss of engagement with their international audience, noting that the teaser trailer for the mod garnered over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments within a day before the channel was permanently deleted.
The modders acknowledged the emotional toll of these events, as they had envisioned a celebratory stream for the mod's launch. Despite these setbacks, they emphasized their commitment to releasing the project on the scheduled date. However, they expressed uncertainty about how long the mod would remain available online, given Take-Two's history of takedowns. While not openly encouraging reuploads, they left it to the community to decide on further distribution.
Originally, the mod was intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA IV to play as a gesture of respect to the publisher. However, due to current uncertainties, the Revolution Team released it as a standalone, installation-ready package to ensure stable performance for a wider audience.
The modders made it clear that their project is non-commercial, created by fans for fans, and expressed gratitude to the original game's developers, though not the publisher. They criticized Take-Two's stance on modding initiatives, hoping that their project might set a precedent for the modding community.
Take-Two's history of issuing takedowns for mods related to Rockstar games is well-documented. The company has targeted various mods, including an AI-powered GTA V story mode mod, a VR mod for Red Dead Redemption 2, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has occasionally hired modders it has previously targeted, and some mods taken down have been followed by official remasters from Rockstar.
Defending Take-Two and Rockstar's actions, former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij argued that the companies are simply protecting their business interests. He pointed out that the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod could compete with the Definitive Edition, and the Liberty City project might impact a potential GTA IV remaster.
The key question moving forward is whether Take-Two will attempt to take down the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod itself, continuing its pattern of stringent modding policies.
