Former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij has openly shared his thoughts on GTA 4, revealing that he wasn’t particularly fond of the game for its more scaled-back approach. Meanwhile, GTA: San Andreas continues to reign supreme among fans, and it’s clear why. The game offered a sprawling experience that embodied the peak of what the PS2 era could achieve.
Following the monumental success of San Andreas, the challenge of crafting the next-gen GTA was substantial. Rockstar chose to pursue a more realistic and character-driven narrative in GTA 4, leading to a title that’s often seen as divisive—not just among fans but within the development team as well.
In a candid conversation with GamesHub, Vermeij noted, “I actually didn’t like GTA 4 that much when it was done because, yes, it does have the atmosphere and I think Nico Bellic is probably the best and most fleshed out GTA character in the universe, but I think we had to sacrifice so much in terms of gameplay.”
The designer pointed to the limited mission variety as a major shortcoming, stating, “You could either follow that car or clear out this compound, or follow this car with a time limit, or assassinate this character, or it’s a mix of all those. But that’s it.” He reminisced about previous titles like GTA: San Andreas, which featured unpredictable missions—like chasing a train or flying a plane to drop flyers—highlighting how such diversity seemed to fall by the wayside in GTA 4.
Reflecting on the game’s legacy, he added, “I felt we lost a little bit too much of that gameplay in GTA 4 and actually I think Rockstar thought that too because GTA 5 and its characters are a bit more cartoony, a bit more extreme. I think the missions in GTA 5 are a bit more varied too.”
It’s fascinating to hear a former insider’s perspective, especially when considering how the evolution of the series has shaped player experiences in the years since.