The long-awaited Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Next-Gen Edition, a fan-made remake of GTA: Vice City built within GTA IV, has officially launched despite persistent efforts by Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive to shut it down.
Developed by the Russian-based Revolution Team, the mod delivers a fully enhanced Vice City experience, featuring all missions, side activities, and significant gameplay improvements. However, the release faced controversy, as Take-Two took action against the project by shutting down the Revolution Team’s YouTube channel just days before its debut.
The takedown of their YouTube channel cut off direct communication with their global audience, sparking outrage within the GTA modding community. Rather than backing down, Revolution Team took a bold step—they removed the requirement for players to own GTA IV, effectively turning the mod into a standalone experience.
This move, made in direct response to Take-Two’s crackdown, guarantees that anyone can now enjoy Vice City in its fully enhanced form.
Unlike previous Grand Theft Auto: Vice City mods that primarily focused on graphical upgrades, GTA Vice City: Next-Gen Edition is a full-fledged port of the original game into GTA IV’s RAGE engine. This overhaul introduces numerous enhancements, including GTA IV’s signature realistic ragdoll physics, water tanker driving mechanics, a vastly improved combat system, and the long-awaited ability to swim.
The iconic Tommy Vercetti storyline remains intact, now featuring upgraded animations, all main and side missions, purchasable properties, and additional content. Quality-of-life improvements include auto-save functionality, in-car phone calls, cash pickups from registers and NPCs, and more detailed interior environments.
Additionally, the game restores the uncut PlayStation 2 soundtrack, including tracks like Lionel Richie’s Running With the Night, which were previously absent from the PC version due to licensing restrictions.
Players can choose between the original GTA IV visuals or a custom ENB lighting overhaul, which introduces realistic neon reflections, enhanced textures, and refined lighting effects.
GTA Vice City: Next-Gen Edition also features fully re-created cutscenes in the RAGE engine, along with all side missions, including Hyman Memorial Stadium races and Sunshine Autos challenges. It retains the original 32 cheat codes, stunt jumps, and hidden packages while incorporating upgraded character models and vehicles from the Xbox version, plus additional San Andreas-inspired cars.
To further enhance the atmosphere, neon lighting from Vice City Stories has been integrated, while classic loading screens and UI elements help preserve the game’s nostalgic charm.
Despite Take-Two’s aggressive legal efforts, Revolution Team remained steadfast, ensuring the mod’s release on January 25, 2025. Unlike a simple graphical overhaul, this project is a faithful and enhanced recreation of Vice City, something Rockstar itself failed to deliver with the GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition, which was not only poorly received but also censored, notably removing imagery such as the Confederate flag.
Given the backlash against the Definitive Edition, this fan-made project stands as a testament to the dedication of the modding community. However, the real question is, how long will it remain publicly available?
Take-Two has a history of shutting down fan projects, such as the Liberty City Preservation Project for Grand Theft Auto V two weeks ago but in this case, preservation efforts by the devoted GTA community make a takedown virtually impossible.
Since the mod is exclusively distributed via torrents, any attempts to remove it would be futile.
To install GTA Vice City: Next-Gen Edition, download the torrent file, whether you source it yourself, use the link provided here, or opt for safer alternatives like ModDB (though there’s no telling how long it will remain available).
Once downloaded, run the setup installer and experience the classic as a standalone game rather than a mod for GTA IV. If you encounter a SecuROM error #2000 or a 0xc000007b error when launching the game, install the necessary DirectX and vcredist libraries included in the repack folder.
Revolution Team’s determination in the face of corporate resistance has resulted in one of the most ambitious fan projects in gaming history. GTA Vice City: Next-Gen Edition is more than just a mod, it’s a tribute to the Grand Theft Auto community and a bold act of defiance, not only in preserving gaming history but also in standing against Rockstar’s and Take-Two’s corporate overreach.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering Vice City for the first time, this is the ultimate way to experience the classic and likely will remain that way until the end of time.
