Former Rockstar Dev Endorses GTA 4 Remaster, Lauds Niko as Series’ Best Protagonist

A former Rockstar developer has fueled speculation about a potential GTA 4 remaster for next-gen consoles, advocating for the game’s revival.

The buzz around GTA 4 started with a post from Tez2, a well-known figure in the GTA community for sharing Rockstar leaks. Tez2 hinted that a GTA 4 port for modern platforms might launch this year, possibly tied to Rockstar’s decision to halt a GTA 5 Liberty City mod.

That said, Rockstar has not confirmed any plans to re-release GTA 4, and such a move would be unexpected given the studio’s heavy focus on GTA 6.

Every Celebrity in GTA 4

Obbe Vermeij, who served as Rockstar Games’ technical director from 1995 to 2009, addressed the GTA 4 rumors on social media. Although unaware of any concrete plans, he strongly supported a remaster, stating that GTA 4, a project he contributed to, “deserves to be revisited.”

“It’s an exceptional game, and recent successful remasters show the potential,” Vermeij noted, possibly alluding to the well-received The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

“I’d love to see it refreshed,” he added in another post. “Niko remains the most compelling protagonist in the GTA series, in my view.”

Regarding a potential remaster’s approach, Vermeij speculated that Rockstar might adapt GTA 4 to the latest iteration of the Rage engine, which powers their games.

It’s important to note that Rockstar has given no official indication of a GTA 4 remaster. With GTA 6’s massive development underway, taking on a remaster or remake might stretch even Rockstar’s vast resources.

Rockstar could outsource the port to an external studio, as seen with Red Dead Redemption, but launching a GTA 4 remaster in 2025 seems unlikely given GTA 6’s planned fall 2025 release. Releasing both titles simultaneously would likely split focus from GTA 6, the studio’s flagship project.

Turning to Liberty City, some fans speculate it could appear in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC.

Liberty City, the GTA series’ version of New York City, was the backdrop for 2008’s GTA 4 and the 2009 spin-off GTA: Chinatown Wars. GTA 6, set in the fictional state of Leonida (inspired by Florida), features Vice City, the series’ take on Miami.

While awaiting clarity, explore our extensive GTA 6 coverage, including key details, 70 new screenshots, and expert insights on how GTA 6 will perform on the PS5 Pro.