Former Rockstar Dev Says GTA 4 Was A Bit Too Dark And Depressing

Expert Verified By

"It Was A Little Too Serious"

Story Highlight
  • 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

GTA 4
Fans Want To See Rockstar Remake GTA 4 For Modern Hardware

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.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Intel Is Laying Off 5,000 US Employees As It Falls Behind The Competition

Intel has recently admitted that it can no longer compete with its rivals, and it is now laying off over 5,000 employees in the US.

Tech Experts Say PS6 Will Feature 24 GB RAM To Account For Ray Tracing And AI Without Raising Costs

As per Digital Foundry, PS6 is speculated to feature 24GB of RAM to accommodate advanced Ray Tracing and AI without a cost increase.

Call of Duty Introducing A New Subfranchise In 2027 Featuring Martial Arts Gameplay

According to a well-known insider, Call of Duty is set to debut a new subfranchise in 2027, which will also feature martial arts.

Sucker Punch Director Wants To Return To The Infamous Franchise Eventually

In a recent interview, Sucker Punch's Creative Director, Nate Fox, shared his excitement about the idea of bringing back the Infamous series.

Ghost of Yotei To Follow Proper Story Structure Unlike AC Shadows

Ghost of Yotei follows Atsu's quest to seek revenge against the Yotei Six, but the game will still follow a set structure.