Todd Howard is a man of many talents, being the mind behind iconic franchises like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. However, even he couldn’t help himself get jealous of a 2008 open-world game, and it was none other than Grand Theft Auto 4. Developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, the game was truly ahead of its time, and even Todd Howard knew that.
Todd Howard Was Jealous of Grand Theft Auto 4 Because It “gets the little things right”
Rockstar Games has always been exceptional at offering open-world titles with immaculate detail, and industry veteran Todd Howard acknowledged that. In a Q&A session with the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, he was asked about the game that he was most jealous of, and here’s what Todd had to say about Rockstar’s 2008 open-world title:
Currently? GTA IV. Big ideas, clear vision, and gets the little things right.
Nobody can deny that Grand Theft Auto 4 has one of the best open-world designs in gaming, with Liberty City’s diverse and lively boroughs. The fact that it broke sales records just a day after release during that time just goes to s how Rockstar’s goodwill and how much players loved diving into their impressively detailed, ambitious open worlds.
However, one of the best parts about Grand Theft Auto 4 was its ragdoll physics, which were incredibly exaggerated and much more dynamic than the physics of 2004’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, thanks to the RAGE engine. The gameplay was already great, but the ragdoll physics simply elevated the entire experience.
Eastern European war veteran Niko Bellic served as a compelling protagonist, and the narrative involving him trying to escape his past while tackling the challenges of the criminal underworld balanced seriousness with moments of levity with absolute perfection. Even the Soviet Connection theme from the game has become a legendary piece of music in the gaming community.
Players still talk highly of the 2008 open-world title even to this day. It’s evident from Todd Howard’s quote that he was impressed with the game to the extent that he was jealous of how great it was, and we don’t blame him. However, players, Todd Howard included, may get a chance to revisit Liberty City soon on current-gen platforms.
Is a Grand Theft Auto 4 Remaster on the Way?
Rumors about a potential Grand Theft Auto 4 remaster have been making the rounds on the internet for a very long time, and that certainly poses the question: Is a GTA 4 remaster in development? While there’s no official confirmation on the remaster from Rockstar actually existing, credible leaks from other sources have hinted otherwise.
Earlier this year, known leaker Tez2 stated that a source within Rockstar hinted at a potential GTA 4 port. A few months back, user devonY7 on Reddit also noticed that Rockstar’s support page displayed PS4 as a platform for GTA 4, despite it never releasing on the console. It has since been removed, but was it an oversight on Rockstar’s part or a massive slip?
Only time will tell, but for now, take everything with a grain of salt until Rockstar itself confirms official information. One thing’s for certain — seeing Liberty City with a new coat of paint would be the perfect appetizer before the main course next year, that is, Grand Theft Auto 6.
Maybe it could drop before Todd Howard’s The Elder Scrolls 6, which has now been in development for an excruciatingly long time. Whatever the case may be, Todd recognised the splendour of GTA 4 and it’s high time for Rockstar to remaster it to modern consoles, or at least port it, especially after the Red Dead Redemption remaster.
So, what do you think about Todd Howard’s thoughts on Grand Theft Auto 4? Do you agree with him? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
