A Russian modding team, Revolution Team, has released its "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod despite facing YouTube takedowns by Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company. This ambitious project transplants Vice City's world, cutscenes, and missions from 2002 into the GTA 4 engine (2008).

The modders' YouTube channel was unexpectedly deleted by Take-Two, resulting in the loss of a significant community and a teaser trailer that had already amassed over 100,000 views. While disappointed by this action, the team pressed forward with the release, prioritizing the promised launch date over a planned celebratory stream. They acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the mod's long-term availability.

Initially intended to require a legitimate GTA 4 copy, the mod was released as a standalone installer to ensure broader accessibility given the circumstances. The team emphasizes the project's non-commercial nature, created by fans for fans, and expresses gratitude to the original game's developers, not the publisher. They hope their project might influence Take-Two's approach to modding initiatives.

Take-Two's history of aggressive takedowns of Rockstar-related mods is well-documented, including instances involving AI-powered GTA 5 mods, a Red Dead Redemption 2 VR mod, and the Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has sometimes hired modders, and some takedowns have preceded Rockstar's own remaster announcements.

Obbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar Games technical director, offered a corporate perspective, stating that Take-Two's actions are aimed at protecting its business interests. He cited the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" as potentially competing with the "Definitive Edition," and the "Liberty City Preservation Project" as possibly interfering with a potential GTA 4 remaster. He suggests that the best hope for the modding community is that Take-Two allows mods that don't directly compete with their commercial releases.

The future of the "GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition" mod remains uncertain, with the question of whether Take-Two will pursue further takedown actions still unanswered.