A Russian modding group, Revolution Team, has released its ambitious "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod, defying takedown attempts by Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games' parent company. This impressive mod seamlessly transplants the world, cutscenes, and missions of 2002's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City into the engine of 2008's Grand Theft Auto IV.

The modders revealed that Take-Two deleted their YouTube channel without warning, resulting in the loss of hundreds of hours of streamed development footage and a significant portion of their international audience. Despite this setback, and the emotional toll it took on the team, they released the mod as promised. They acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding its long-term availability but remain unopposed to reuploads, although they won't actively encourage them.

Initially, the mod required a legitimate copy of GTA IV, a gesture of respect for the publisher. However, due to the channel takedown, it's now released as a standalone installer for broader accessibility. Revolution Team emphasizes the mod's non-commercial nature, created by fans for fans, and expresses gratitude to the original game's developers. They hope their project might set a precedent for future modding initiatives.

Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar-related mods is well-documented, straining its relationship with the modding community. Past examples include takedowns of an AI-powered GTA V story mode mod, a Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mod, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Ironically, Take-Two has sometimes hired modders to work at Rockstar, and some removed mods have later inspired official remasters.

Former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij offered a corporate perspective, arguing that Take-Two and Rockstar are simply protecting their business interests. He points out that the Vice City Nextgen Edition directly competes with the GTA: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, and the Liberty City Preservation Project could potentially interfere with a hypothetical GTA IV remaster. Vermeij suggests that the best hope for the modding community is for Take-Two to tolerate mods that don't pose a direct threat to their business, citing the Grand Theft Auto III Dreamcast port (DCA3) as a positive example.

The crucial question remains: will Take-Two pursue legal action to remove the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod itself?