Industry insiders have revealed exciting news for Grand Theft Auto fans - Rockstar Games appears to be preparing a current-generation port of the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto 4. This development comes as the highly anticipated GTA 6 faces delays, pushing its release to 2026. The 2008 classic might receive new life on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms later this year.

The Current-Gen Console Treatment

While Grand Theft Auto 5 has seen multiple re-releases across console generations, fans have long requested similar treatment for its predecessor. According to trusted GTA insider Tez2, development on this port has been underway for approximately a year. The insider clarified this would be a 'port' rather than a full 'remaster,' suggesting focus on performance enhancements like improved frame rates with possible minor graphical upgrades.

Connection to Recent Events

Earlier this year, Rockstar made headlines by shutting down a popular GTA 5 mod that faithfully recreated Liberty City. The timing now suggests this action might have been preventative, ensuring no fan projects would compete with an official GTA 4 re-release. The Liberty City Preservation Project mod had impressively recreated the entire map with functioning systems, making it a potential threat to commercial plans.

The Max Payne Connection

The same insider suggests Rockstar might follow this release with a current-gen port of Max Payne 3, potentially bundled with Remedy Entertainment's upcoming remakes of the first two Max Payne titles. While Remedy has confirmed the remakes entered full production earlier this year, their release likely won't precede GTA 6 in 2026.

What This Means for Fans

For gamers disappointed by GTA 6's delay, a refreshed GTA 4 could provide substantial entertainment. The original game's gritty narrative and physics-driven gameplay made it unique in the series. A current-gen version would allow new players to experience Niko Bellic's story with modern technical improvements while giving veterans reason to revisit Liberty City.

As always with unconfirmed reports, fans should temper expectations until Rockstar makes an official announcement. However, given the credibility of sources and recent corporate actions, this current-gen port appears highly probable.