A dedicated segment of the fanbase remains hopeful for a modernized rendition of the classic title.
Obbe Vermeij, the former technical director at Rockstar North, frequently takes to social media to share his professional insights and engage with enthusiasts of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
He was recently prompted to address the long-standing rumors surrounding a potential GTA IV remaster:
“Obbe, is there any truth to the claims that porting GTA IV to current-generation consoles would be a monumental undertaking? Are the engine constraints and technical hurdles really that significant?”
The veteran developer suggested that producing a high-quality remaster would require a substantial financial commitment:
[Developing a GTA IV remaster] would be an enormous task. Much of the visual assets would need to be overhauled; the cinematics, in particular, have begun to show their age. To make the project competitive in today’s market, the costs would likely match those of the original game’s development. Rockstar might hesitate at such an expense, but if they do choose to proceed, it is vital that the project is executed correctly.
Speculation regarding a refreshed version of GTA IV has persisted for years, yet Rockstar Games has maintained its silence on the matter.
In the absence of an official release, the community has taken the lead. Modder xoxor4d recently showcased an impressive RTX remaster, meticulously crafted using NVIDIA’s advanced toolset.
Source: iXBT.games