"GTA 4 Remaster Urged by Ex-Rockstar Dev: 'Niko Best GTA Protagonist'"

A former Rockstar Games veteran has weighed in on the swirling rumors about a potential re-release of *Grand Theft Auto IV* (GTA 4) on the latest generation of consoles, suggesting that the game should indeed be remastered. The speculation began when Tez2, a well-known leaker within the GTA community, hinted at a possible GTA 4 port for modern systems this year. This rumor gained traction partly because of Rockstar's recent action to shut down a GTA 5 Liberty City Mod, which some believed was to avoid conflicts with the rumored re-release.

However, it's crucial to note that Rockstar Games has not officially announced any plans to re-release GTA 4. Given the studio's intense focus on the development of *Grand Theft Auto VI* (GTA 6), a GTA 4 re-release would be unexpected. Despite this, the conversation around a potential remaster continues to grow.

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Obbe Vermeij, who served as Rockstar Games' technical director from 1995 to 2009 and was involved in the development of GTA 4, responded to the rumors on social media. Although he hadn't heard about the specific rumors, Vermeij expressed his belief that GTA 4 "should be remastered," calling it a "great game." He highlighted the success of recent remasters like *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* as a precedent.

Vermeij further shared his enthusiasm for seeing GTA 4 updated, praising the game's protagonist, Niko Bellic, as "the best protagonist in any GTA game." He suggested that a potential remaster could involve porting GTA 4 to the latest version of the Rage engine, which Rockstar uses for its game development.

Despite the excitement around the possibility, it's important to reiterate that Rockstar has not confirmed any plans for a GTA 4 remaster. The studio's primary focus remains on the monumental task of developing GTA 6, set for release in the fall of 2025. Undertaking a GTA 4 remaster alongside GTA 6 could be overwhelming, even for a studio with Rockstar's resources.

Rockstar could potentially outsource the project to an external studio, as it did with the port of *Red Dead Redemption*. However, releasing a GTA 4 remaster in 2025, the same year as GTA 6, might not make strategic sense, as it could divert attention from the much-anticipated new game.

Shifting focus to Liberty City, some GTA enthusiasts speculate that this iconic location, inspired by New York City and the setting for 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, modeled after Florida and including Vice City, Rockstar's version of Miami.

As we await more information, there's plenty to explore about GTA 6, including detailed insights, a collection of 70 new screenshots, and expert analysis on how GTA 6 might perform on the PS5 Pro.