Rockstar Veteran Finally Explains Why Ferries Were Cut From GTA 4
Key Takeaways:
- GTA 4’s original trailer from 17 years ago featured a ferry pulling into Liberty City.
- Despite being shown in the trailer, ferries were ultimately cut from the final game.
- Former Rockstar Games developer Obbe Vermeij has now explained why this feature was removed.
For years, Grand Theft Auto IV fans have wondered why the ferry featured in the game’s first trailer didn’t make it into the final release. The reveal trailer, which showcased a ferry pulling into Liberty City’s ferry station, left players excited about the potential for new transportation options within the game. However, when the game launched, the ferry station remained in the world, but the ferries themselves were nowhere to be found. Now, after nearly two decades, the mystery has finally been solved, thanks to former Rockstar Games developer Obbe Vermeij.
Vermeij, who worked as a technical director at Rockstar and contributed to the development of some of the studio’s most iconic titles, including GTA V and Red Dead Redemption, has been sharing insider details about Rockstar’s development process on social media. While much of his commentary has focused on earlier entries in the GTA series, Vermeij recently addressed one of the longest-standing questions about GTA IV—what happened to the ferries?
Why Were Ferries Cut from GTA IV?
In response to a fan’s question on Twitter, Vermeij revealed that the ferries were removed not due to performance issues, as some had speculated, but because of technical problems related to the game’s physics. Specifically, Vermeij explained that the cars sitting on the boats caused significant issues with the game’s physics engine. Additionally, the design of the ferries created problems with NPC behavior, particularly the people queuing to board the ferry.
Vermeij described the ferries as “more trouble than they were worth” due to the complications they introduced to the game’s systems. Essentially, despite the promising visuals of the ferry pulling into the dock in the trailer, it was the complex interactions between physics, AI, and game mechanics that ultimately led Rockstar to scrap the feature.
The Legacy of the Ferry Stations
While the ferries themselves didn’t make it into GTA IV, the ferry stations remained in Liberty City, serving as a remnant of what might have been. This left many fans puzzled over the years, unsure why such a prominent feature, which had been showcased in the trailer, was removed from the game. Now, thanks to Vermeij’s explanation, we have a clearer understanding of the challenges Rockstar faced in trying to make the ferries work within the game world.
Vermeij’s candidness about the development process sheds light on the complexity of creating a game like GTA IV, where even small features like ferries can have significant ripple effects on the game’s physics, AI, and overall design. It’s a fascinating insight into the behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped the final product.
The Rockstar Development Process
One of the most intriguing aspects of Vermeij’s revelations is how they give us a glimpse into the often-hidden world of game development at Rockstar. Despite the studio’s reputation for secrecy and its refusal to discuss cut content, Vermeij’s transparency provides valuable context for how the studio navigates technical challenges during development.
Although GTA IV remains one of the most critically acclaimed entries in the series, it’s clear that even small features, like ferries, can become problematic during the development process. Ultimately, Rockstar’s decision to cut them from the game was a practical one, driven by the desire to ensure the game functioned as smoothly as possible.
Featured Image Credit: Rockstar Games
Topics: GTA 4, Rockstar Games, Obbe Vermeij, Game Development, GTA, Grand Theft Auto