As technology advances and graphics become more realistic, fans want more from their games and, although the latest AAA will include everything from path tracing to photorealistic graphics, it is some of our favorite older titles that are being left in the dark (sometimes quite literally).

That includes titles such as Grand Theft Auto IV. First released back in 2008, it is safe to say that this Rockstar classic is the subject of its time when it comes to its graphics. However, thanks to one dedicated fan, there is a way to play the sixth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto franchise without having to sacrifice performance for appearance.

This GTA 4 Remaster Is A Thing Of Beauty

Created by xoxor4d, a brand-new major update has just been released for the RTX Remix Path Tracing mod for Grand Theft Auto IV, which as you can probably guess, adds path tracing to the 2008 title. Path tracing aims to add more realistic reflection and bouncing, offering a representation of how light reacts in the real world which would be greatly appreciated in a game such as GTA IV where the city feels very much alive.

Thanks to the mod, Liberty City has had a new lease of life with global intensity increased to match the game’s original lighting whilst also offering more realistic weather settings such as the chance of rain, lightning, and cloudy conditions.

Moonlight, that was previously missing from some areas of the map, has now been implemented, and new material from various cutscenes and DLCs have been added, racking up around 16,000 replacements, and over 24,000 texture files.

You Can Download It Now

xoxor4d

If you are interested in this free Grand Theft Auto IV mod, you can install it from this link and this marks just one of thousands of mods available for the 2008 Rockstar title which aim to breathe new life into it almost two decades on from release. This mod in particular aims to work alongside GTA 4: Complete Edition via NVIDIA’s RTX Remix and although it does not aim to remaster the game, its complete overhaul of GTA IV‘s visuals definitely offer the next best thing.

With Grand Theft Auto VI expected to offer cutting-edge technology when it launches this November, it is mods such as this that give us just a glimpse at what could be possible with the latest advancements and I, for one, am excited to see what can be achieved next.

Not only that, but with players believing that GTA VI should be more like GTA IV and not Grand Theft Auto V, let us hope that the next instalment in the beloved franchise takes inspiration from more than just graphics.

Systems

Released

April 29, 2008

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Engine

rockstar advanced game engine

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer