Summary
- Last week, the fans behind Vice City: Next-Gen Edition released a new trailer ahead of its imminent launch.
- After it blew up, Take-Two took down the team’s entire YouTube channel.
- However, the mod still launched on schedule, but concerns are mounting about how long it will remain available.
Last week, the fan-made remaster of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, dubbed Vice City: Next-Gen Edition, unveiled an exciting new trailer ahead of its highly anticipated January 25 release. The mod quickly went viral within the gaming community, but the celebration was short-lived as Take-Two Interactive responded by taking down the Revolution Team’s entire YouTube channel.
Many feared this marked the end of the ambitious project, a fate that has befallen similar fan-led endeavors. However, as reported by Eurogamer, the mod defied the odds and launched as planned. Originally, the developers required players to own a copy of GTA 4 to access the remaster, showing respect for Take-Two’s copyright.
But following the publisher’s takedown, the Revolution Team took a bold step, reworking the project into a standalone package that players can now install and enjoy without needing another game.
Take-Two’s Takedown Of Vice City: Next-Gen Edition Took A Toll On The Devs
Take-Two shut down the project’s YouTube channel without reaching out to the fans behind it, resulting in the irreversible loss of hundreds of hours of content documenting the mod’s development.
Note
Another fan-led project bringing Liberty City to GTA 5 was shut down earlier this month following conversations with Rockstar.
The Revolution Team recently expressed their deep frustration and disappointment over losing their YouTube channel, emphasizing the immense time and effort poured into building it. “We also lost connection with our international audience, a vital part of our community,” the team stated. Their teaser trailer for GTA Vice City: Next-Gen Edition had garnered significant traction, amassing over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments within 24 hours of release.
While the project launched on schedule, the loss of their channel has been “emotionally tough,” and the team now faces uncertainty about the future of the project. They voiced concerns about the possibility of Take-Two Interactive shutting it down entirely. “It’s unclear how long it will remain publicly available or if there will be demands for its removal,” the statement noted. Although the team does not discourage reuploads, they are unable to openly endorse them, leaving the decision to the community: “Do as you see fit.”