A recent Rockstar insider claim has sparked interest all over the GTA Community. Reports have emerged from a well-known insider, Tez2, claiming that Rockstar is working on a next-gen port of GTA 4 for current-gen consoles. For years now, Grand Theft Auto IV has been dormant on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. With no native port of GTA 4 on the PS5, 4, or the Xbox, the only way to play it is with a backward-compatible version on Xbox One and Series X|S.
Fans have been longing for the return of Liberty City and Nico Bellic. Let’s take a look at this insider report and see if GTA 4 is getting a release for next-gen consoles.
GTA 4 Next-Gen Console Release
Recently, during a discussion on Formus, a user asked Tez2 for any update or news on GTA 4. The insider replied that he knows someone at Rockstar who worked on the GTA 4 port for next-gen consoles. Grand Theft Auto IV is one of the most beloved titles in the entire gaming community as it jumpstarted the HD Era of GTA games. Being the first modern release for the series, IV truly broke the norm when it came to Rockstar titles with its revolutionary gameplay, mechanics, and the brilliant open world of Liberty City.
The insider also claimed that with the delay of GTA 6, the timeline of the release of GTA 4 Next-Gen is now even closer than anticipated. Speculations suggest GTA 4 might be heading to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S near the end of 2025.
The insider leak is also fueled by the recent shutdown by Rockstar of the infamous Liberty City Preservation Project. The mod ported over the entire map of Liberty City into Grand Theft Auto V.
Rockstar Games and Mods
The Liberty City Preservation Project was one of the biggest mods of recent times. Created by a group of modders over the years. The mod fully integrated the world of GTA IV into GTA 5 while using updated assets. With a working pedestrian system, traffic, and even a working subway. The mod became a huge sensation overnight, with thousands of fans downloading the Preservation Project and returning to the streets of Liberty.
But like all unofficial mods, Rockstar pulled the plug on the mod before it even had a week to breathe. The modding team behind the mod, World Travel. Announced the discontinuation of the project on their Discord channel after “talking” with Rockstar Games. This has led to speculation amongst fans that the reason behind it was seemingly an official port of GTA 4 on next-gen consoles.
Why is Rockstar Games Releasing GTA 4 Now?
There are many reasons as to why Rockstar has decided to release Grand Theft Auto IV now, and it all boils down to one major factor, and that is sweet green money. Rockstar Games has seen massive success with its re-release of titles and remasters in the past. Even if it was the rocky launch and heavily criticized GTA Trilogy: Definitive Edition, the collection still turned out to be a huge financial win for the company. Despite major flaws, the game sold millions of copies, all running on the nostalgia bandwagon.
Let’s not forget the Red Dead Redemption re-release on current-gen consoles. While it wasn’t a full-on remaster or a remake, the upgraded version definitely was one of the most beautifully put-together ports in a long time. So, if you combine GTA IV’s cult following, the current-gen market’s hunger for content, and Rockstar’s proven track record with re-releases. Bringing back Liberty City to current-gen consoles seems like the best move for Rockstar before the release of GTA VI.
Summary
The rumored next-gen release of GTA 4 has sparked major excitement among fans, as it’s one of the most requested ports in the gaming community. While the next-gen port is not officially confirmed, the possibility is high of returning to the streets of Liberty City on current-gen consoles. Fans have many questions about whether the port will introduce new features, mechanics or include the iconic story expansions of IV, The Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and Damned. All things said, fans are super excited to play GTA IV on current gen consoles with 60FPS and 4K Visuals and live the story of Nico Bellic one again.
Stay tuned for more info on the GTA 4 Next-gen release and for the latest gaming news, game guides, and more be sure to check out Driffle Blogs.
