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- The Grand Theft Auto series went through major changes with GTA 4.
- This game told a darker story and presented more realistic gameplay.
- A former Rockstar developer has admitted that this entry was a bit too dark and depressing compared to its predecessors.
GTA 4 is often known to be the most different of Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series. Offering a bleak and darker take on the series, this entry immediately stood out for its story.
This dark themes even carried over to the visual style of GTA 4, giving the whole game a depressing outlook. However, a former Rockstar developer admits that the studio may have gone overboard with these themes.
Why it matters: While the former developer believes this decision may not have been the best, many fans found GTA 4 enjoyable, specifically for its themes. The game has become a fan favorite since its release.
Speaking to SaninPlay, former Rockstar developer Obbe Vermeij recalled how the Grand Theft Auto series focused on fun gameplay and light-hearted elements in the past.
He reminisced that GTA 4 was a huge departure from previous entries, setting a new precedent for the series. GTA 4 also portrayed a sense of realism through its core gameplay.
Rockstar focused on the physics and animations, and this focus ultimately created one of the most divisive Grand Theft Auto entries due to the driving mechanics. The developer believed that future entries would continue the trend, with Rockstar working toward making the IP more serious and depressing.
We made 4, and to my mind, it was a little too serious, too dark.
-Obbe Vermeij
However, the studio ultimately went in a different direction with GTA 5, which ended up being more light-hearted than its predecessor. This shift worked out quite well since the game has now sold about 200 million units.
Obbe Vermeij left Rockstar after working on GTA 4, but he recalled how the team implemented all kinds of crazy ideas in past games.
GTA San Andreas was particularly important for the studio since it went out of its way to implement various fun mechanics in this entry, partly because of how much time the team was given to work on the project. This is perhaps why many still consider it to be the best of the IP to this day.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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