Grand Theft Auto, a gravity well in the gaming universe, is the most anticipated release this generation. Mere weeks away, it has reshaped the world around it, all despite being a console-first, single player experience. Speaking with Rock Paper Shotgun, former Rockstar developer Obbe Vermeij commented on the company’s unique release priorities when it comes to PC versions, but speculates that could change with AI copycats breathing down its neck.
“I would be concerned if I was Rockstar,” says Vermeij, “somebody would just take the PS5 version and get AI to change it to PC, which won’t be as good as their effort, but it could still also hurt their sales.”
While he hasn’t worked at the studio since 2009, Vermeij acted as technical director on Grand Theft Auto III. He said when the company ported the first game to the PlayStation in 1997, there were frustrations with how much had to be compromised from the PC build. Heading into the PlayStation 2, they opted to build for console specs first instead of being forced to pare down. Somewhat unconventional for a game that initially made its home on computers, but it proved to be the correct approach, giving the series a massive player base and launching it into global infamy.
AI could change this philosophy, according to Vermeij. While AI struggles to make original games, film, any art as well as the living, human counterparts it pilfers from, it has proven to be prolific at decompiling games. Able to disassemble and reassemble the parts of a game, it has accelerated mods and ports for existing games in recent months. The latest models of popular AI clients have proven to be a Pandora’s Box. Its flooded Steam with vibe coded’ shovelware, frustrated vulnerable indie developers, disenfranchised existing modding communities, but also become a thorn in the side of major publishers, whose catalogues are just as susceptible to this form of tinkering.
“A big company like Take-Two, they would be able to get the lawyers on the case,” says Vermeij. “It’s a brave new world. What was the case before, is that there’s so much effort in developing the game, that it is not possible to rip it off, and that’s completely changed now.”
While pre-LLM machine learning-assisted ports were already a sore spot for Grand Theft Auto, Vermeij doesn’t think an unofficial, AI-made PC port of the upcoming VI would meet the standards Rockstar boasts. Vermeij isn’t an AI hold-out either, using the tech for his own current projects, like the environmental sim Plentiful. Regardless, the prospect of overnight ersatz threatens to prick at Rockstar’s internal release schedule, having already been deflated by high-profile leaks.
