GTA 4 Remaster in Development: Leak Suggests Liberty City Could Return This Year

The Grand Theft Auto community has been filled with speculation, and a new leak suggests that fans could return to Liberty City a little earlier than expected. A reputable insider suggests that a GTA 4 Remaster in Development could release later this year, so players can relive Niko Bellic’s story before finally playing GTA 6.

Rockstar Games officially confirmed that the release of GTA 6 will be on May 26, 2026. The remaster of GTA 4 may help bridge the gap and provide users with a new or familiar experience on modern consoles.

Current Leak Suggests GTA 4 Remaster in Development

Rumors about a remaster of GTA 4 began to circulate when reliable Rockstar news leaker Tez2 spoke about it on GTAForums. In a forum post, Tez2 mentioned that Rockstar has been quietly working on a port of GTA 4 for over a year now.

Tez2 also mentioned that the recent shutdown of the Liberty City Preservation Project (LCPP), which was a fan recreation of Liberty City from GTA IV, in GTA V could be a sign that Rockstar wants to remaster the title, rather than have a third-party fan take an interest in third-party reinterpretations.

The leak mentions the remaster will have "graphical improvements," "added gameplay," and will be optimized for modern hardware like the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S and high-spec PCs. While there may be no official word from Rockstar on this yet, Tez2 has a reputation for reliable sourcing in the past, and this news is worth watching.

How GTA 6’s Delay Impacts GTA 4 Remastered

Following Rockstar's announcement of the postponement of GTA 6 to 2026, there is an opportunity to "bring back the success of a classic," as players who have long awaited a return to Vice City will also be looking back at Liberty City and perhaps be able to trip down memory lane in glorious detail. A GTA 4 remaster could be a logical move to keep the community engaged and excited while Rockstar is working on the next-generation entry for PS5.

A remaster could naturally fit in with Rockstar's post-pandemic strategy about taking a look back at legacy titles that had not been considered before, in working on Max Payne 3 after GTA IV. It would also help satisfy what could be a small yet vast number of older players, while building momentum for the brand until GTA 6 becomes available.

Why Are Fans Excited for GTA 4 Remaster Release?

The story-driven gameplay of GTA IV, along with Niko Bellic's gritty journey, certainly has merit even 17 years after hitting shelves for the first time. The memories of exploring Liberty City's streets, interacting with its characters, and participating in a cinematic, emotional storyline are all fresh in fans' minds. A current-gen remastered GTA 4 would let players relive those memories with better visuals and gameplay.

The potential remaster is targeted toward PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and high-end PCs, which would mean improved performance, upgraded graphic enhancements, and possibly other improvements to gameplay that would enhance the overall experience. With multiple re-releases of GTA V while GTA IV has only remained a relic, it should finally give Liberty City the upgrade it deserves.