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

A former Rockstar veteran, Obbe Vermeij, who served as the technical director at the company from 1995 to 2009, 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. Vermeij, who contributed to the development of GTA 4, expressed his belief that the game "should be remastered," citing its greatness and the recent success of other remastered titles, such as *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered*.

The rumors started with a post from Tez2, a well-known leaker within the GTA community, who suggested that a GTA 4 port for modern systems might be released this year. Tez2 linked the potential release to Rockstar's recent action of shutting down a GTA 5 Liberty City Mod, implying it was to clear the way for a new GTA 4 version. However, it's crucial to note that Rockstar has not officially indicated any plans to re-release GTA 4. Given their focus on the much-anticipated *Grand Theft Auto VI* (GTA 6), a GTA 4 re-release would be a surprising move.

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Vermeij shared his thoughts on social media, admitting he hadn't heard about the rumors but still advocating for a remaster. He praised GTA 4, calling it a great game and expressing a desire to see it updated. Vermeij highlighted Niko Bellic, the protagonist of GTA 4, as the best in the series. He suggested that if Rockstar were to remaster GTA 4, they might use the latest version of the Rage engine, the engine they use for their game development.

Despite Vermeij's enthusiasm, it's important to reiterate that Rockstar has given no official indication of plans to remaster GTA 4. The studio's primary focus remains on the massive project that is GTA 6, set for an initial release in fall 2025. Undertaking a GTA 4 remaster or remake alongside GTA 6 would be a significant challenge, even for a studio with Rockstar's resources.

One possibility is that Rockstar could outsource the port to an external studio, similar to what they did with the *Red Dead Redemption* port. However, releasing a GTA 4 remaster in 2025, the same year as GTA 6's launch, seems unlikely, as it might divert attention from their flagship title.

Turning to the setting of GTA 4, Liberty City, some fans speculate that this iconic location, inspired by New York City, might appear 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, inspired by Miami. While we await further news, there's plenty more to explore about GTA 6, including detailed insights, 70 new screenshots, and expert opinions on how it will perform on the PS5 Pro.