"Ex-Rockstar Dev Advocates GTA 4 Remaster: 'Niko Remains GTA's Top Protagonist'"

A former Rockstar veteran has weighed in on the swirling rumors about a potential re-release of Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA 4) for the latest generation of consoles, suggesting that the game is ripe for a remaster.

The buzz around a GTA 4 re-release was initially sparked by Tez2, a well-known figure in the GTA community for leaking Rockstar information. Tez2 hinted that a modern port of GTA 4 might be on the horizon this year, and this could be linked to Rockstar's recent decision to shut down a GTA 5 Liberty City Mod.

However, it's crucial to note that Rockstar has not officially announced any plans to re-release GTA 4. Given the studio's current focus on Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), a GTA 4 re-release would be unexpected.

Every Celebrity in GTA 4

View 26 ImagesObbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar Games technical director who was with the company from 1995 to 2009 and contributed to GTA 4, responded to the rumors on social media. Although he hadn't heard about the rumors, he expressed his belief that GTA 4 "should be remastered."

"It's a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently," Vermeij noted, possibly alluding to the well-received The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

In another social media post, Vermeij added, "I would like to see it updated. Niko is still the best protagonist in any GTA game I think."

Regarding the technical aspects of a potential remaster, Vermeij suggested that Rockstar might port GTA 4 to the latest version of the Rage engine, the platform used for their game development.

It's important to reiterate that Rockstar has not given any official indication of plans to remaster GTA 4. Considering the monumental task of developing GTA 6, taking on a GTA 4 remaster simultaneously might be beyond even Rockstar's vast capabilities.

Rockstar could potentially outsource the project to an external studio, as they did with the Red Dead Redemption port. However, releasing a GTA 4 remaster in 2025, the same year as GTA 6's planned fall release, seems unlikely. It would risk splitting the audience's attention away from the much-anticipated GTA 6.

On the topic of Liberty City, some GTA fans speculate that this iconic location, inspired by New York City and featured in GTA 4 and GTA: Chinatown Wars, might make an appearance in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC. GTA 6 is set in the fictional state of Leonida, which includes Vice City, Rockstar's version of Miami.

As we await further developments, there's plenty more to explore about GTA 6, including detailed insights, 70 new screenshots, and expert analysis on how the game will perform on the PS5 Pro.