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Rockstar Games could release a new Grand Theft Auto game before the end of 2025 after all.
For months, Rockstar Games and its parent company Take-Two Interactive had planned to release Grand Theft Auto VI later this year, but that was unceremoniously shunted until May 26, 2026 earlier this month.
But Rockstar Games could launch a refreshed version of Grand Theft Auto IV on current-generation consoles to coincide with the Christmas shopping rush, according to well-known industry insider Tez2. The rumoured revamp would bring the 2008 open-world classic to PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X/S — offering fans something to play while waiting for the now-delayed Grand Theft Auto VI.
- Wishlist Grand Theft Auto VI on the PlayStation Store now
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The source of this tidbit — known by the moniker Tez2 online — has a strong track record when it comes to leaks about unannounced Rockstar Games projects. According to whispers, development on the new version of GTA IV has been underway for a year already.
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Rockstar Games has released Grand Theft Auto V on three different console generations in 2013, 2015, and most recently with a new Expanded & Enhanced version in 2022. It also launched GTA: The Trilogy — Definitive Edition, which contained Grand Theft Auto III (2001), Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002), and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) with remastered visuals and new gameplay tweaks, in late 2021.
However, Grand Theft Auto IV hasn't received the same amount of attention. But that will soon change based on Tez2's comments, which were shared on a GTA forum, "Someone at R* hinted at the IV port, and by now it should've gone up a year in development. We may end up seeing it drop later this year."
Fans will be hoping any GTA IV remaster receives better treatment than the GTA: The Trilogy — Definitive Edition collection, which was criticised for technical issues and artistic changes upon release.
A new version of the game, dubbed GTA IV: Complete Edition, released on Rockstar Games' Launcher and the Steam Store — both exclusive to PCs on March 24, 2020 but there's been no word on a release on current generation consoles
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Grand Theft Auto IV, released in the UK in April 2008 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, tells the story of Eastern European war veteran Niko Bellic. The game is set in Liberty City, Rockstar's fictional version of New York City, where Niko arrives hoping to escape his troubled past.
Despite his intentions for a fresh start, Niko soon finds himself pulled into a life of crime as he navigates the criminal underworld of Liberty City. Upon its release, GTA IV received widespread critical acclaim. Eurogamer called it "a genuinely ground-breaking blockbuster" in video game history.
The game also received two major expansion packs – The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony – which featured new protagonists and stories. A Complete Edition that bundled the base game with both expansions was later released on Windows PCs and Steam, but not on consoles.
While Grand Theft Auto IV was a commercial success, selling approximately 25 million copies worldwide, it was ultimately overshadowed by its successor. GTA V, released in 2013, has become one of the best-selling video games of all time with over 190 million copies sold across multiple platforms.
Nevertheless, GTA IV remains a significant entry in the franchise, having broken sales records at the time of its release. The game sold approximately 3.6 million copies on its first day, generating over $310 million in revenue within 24 hours. Within its first week, GTA IV had sold over 6 million copies globally, worth an estimated $500 million.
Despite being eclipsed by its successor, GTA IV's commercial performance cemented the Grand Theft Auto series as one of gaming's most valuable franchises. Beyond the GTA IV port, Tez2 also claims teams within Rockstar Games could be planning to release a Max Payne 3 remaster in the future too.
First released back in 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV is showing its ages compared to its successor
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The satirical crime thriller is set in Liberty City — a thinly-veield take on New York City
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According to the insider, if Rockstar "still follow their plan laid out from the pandemic days, they'll do an MP3 [Max Payne 3] port after IV."
This could potentially lead to a bundle or "Definitive Edition" that would coincide with the launch of the Max Payne 1 and 2 remakes currently in development by Remedy Entertainment.
The Max Payne remakes were previously announced as a collaboration between Rockstar Games and Remedy Entertainment, though release dates remain unknown. As always with unconfirmed reports, take these rumours with a pinch of salt until Rockstar Games makes an official announcement.
