A former Rockstar veteran has addressed recent speculation about a potential GTA 4 re-release for current-generation consoles, suggesting the title deserves a full remaster instead.

The rumor originated with Tez2, a well-known figure in the GTA community for previously leaking Rockstar information. Tez2 speculated that a modern port of GTA 4 could launch this year, and its development was a key reason behind Rockstar's recent takedown of a GTA 5 Liberty City mod.

However, it's important to emphasize that Rockstar has given no official sign of plans to re-release GTA 4. Realistically, such a project would be surprising, considering the studio's current intense focus on GTA 6.

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Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar Games technical director who worked at the company from 1995 to 2009, was asked about the GTA 4 rumors on social media. While unaware of the speculation, he affirmed that GTA 4, a project he contributed to, "should be remastered."

"It's a fantastic game, and we've seen several successful remasters lately," he added, possibly alluding to the highly popular The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

"I would love to see it modernized," Vermeij continued in a follow-up post. "Niko remains, in my opinion, the best protagonist in the entire GTA series."

Regarding how a potential remaster could be executed, Vermeij proposed that Rockstar might adapt GTA 4 to the latest iteration of its Rage engine, the technology behind its current game development.

Once again, it's crucial to note that Rockstar has not provided any indication to fans about remastering GTA 4. We must also consider the massive undertaking that is GTA 6; adding a GTA 4 remaster or remake on top of that would likely stretch Rockstar's resources, despite their vast capabilities.

Rockstar could delegate the port to an external studio, similar to the approach taken with Red Dead Redemption's port. However, the timing of a 2025 GTA 4 re-release seems illogical when considering GTA 6's initial Fall 2025 launch window. If GTA 6 stays on schedule, it's unlikely Rockstar would market a GTA 4 remaster simultaneously, potentially splitting audience attention from their flagship release.

Shifting focus back to Liberty City, some GTA fans speculate the location might appear in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.

Liberty City is the series' fictional interpretation of New York City, serving as the primary setting for 2008's GTA 4 and the 2009 spin-off GTA: Chinatown Wars. GTA 6 is set in the fictional state of Leonida (based on Florida), which includes Vice City, the franchise's version of Miami.

While we await further news, explore our extensive GTA 6 coverage, including all the details uncovered so far, a collection of 70 brand-new screenshots, and expert analysis on how GTA 6 will perform on PS5 Pro.