A former Rockstar veteran has weighed in on the swirling rumors of a potential re-release of Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA 4) for the latest generation of consoles, suggesting that the game deserves a remaster.

The buzz about a GTA 4 re-release originated from a post by Tez2, a well-known figure within the GTA community for leaking Rockstar information. Tez2 hinted at a possible port of GTA 4 to modern systems this year, suggesting this might be why Rockstar recently shut down a GTA 5 Liberty City Mod. However, it's crucial to note that Rockstar has not officially indicated any plans to re-release GTA 4. Given the studio's current focus on Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6), such a move would be unexpected.

Every Celebrity in GTA 4

View 26 ImagesObbe Vermeij, a former Rockstar Games technical director who was with the company from 1995 to 2009, responded to these rumors on social media. Although he hadn't heard about the specific rumors, he expressed his belief that GTA 4, a game he contributed to, "should be remastered."

"It's a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently," Vermeij remarked, possibly alluding to the success of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

In another social media post, Vermeij added, "I would like to see it updated. Niko is still the best protagonist in any GTA game I think."

Regarding the potential remaster, Vermeij suggested that Rockstar might consider porting GTA 4 to the latest version of their Rage engine, which they use to develop their games.

Rockstar could potentially outsource the port to an external studio, similar to what they did with Red Dead Redemption. However, releasing a GTA 4 remaster in 2025, close to GTA 6’s planned fall 2025 release, would not make strategic sense as it could divert attention from their main release.

Shifting focus back to Liberty City, some fans speculate that this iconic location, inspired by New York City and featured in GTA 4 and GTA: Chinatown Wars, might appear in GTA 6, either at launch or as post-launch DLC. GTA 6 is set in the fictional state of Leonida, which is based on Florida and includes Vice City, inspired by Miami.

While we await further details, you can explore more about GTA 6, including our comprehensive findings, a gallery of 70 new screenshots, and expert analysis on how GTA 6 might perform on the PS5 Pro.