Modder xoxor4d has released version 1.4.0 of his renowned graphics mod for GTA IV—and it’s now available to everyone, completely free of charge. Released on July 26, 2026, Liberty City has been transformed into something between a Hollywood blockbuster and a modern AAA hit. Previously, the project was behind a paywall, but now the authors have decided to distribute it via GitHub without any strings attached—and this is perhaps the biggest news for those yearning for high-quality graphics in the classic game.
The main new feature is full path tracing, the same one Nvidia is promoting through RTX Remix. But version 1.4.0 adds something else: the Numos system, which is responsible for volumetric clouds and dynamic weather. The sky is no longer a flat texture—it lives, breathes, and changes in real time. Remix Runtime is also integrated—a special CPU overlay designed to combat bottlenecks in the older RAGE engine. As a result, the nighttime city, with its wet asphalt, neon signs, and headlight reflections, looks as if it were ported to Unreal Engine 5. And this is despite the mod not touching the geometry or original textures at all—it relies solely on re-lighting.
There’s a curious nuance here. Some reviews claim the mod doesn’t change textures, while others claim PBR materials have been added for 18,000 objects. In reality, two separate things are at work: RTX Remix simply re-lights, while the AutoPBR add-on determines the physical properties of each surface (metal, wood, concrete) in real time and simulates how light interacts with them. Textures aren’t replaced—they’re literally re-imagined on the fly. Data collection occurs directly during gameplay, and this meticulous approach by the developers allows for photorealism without replacing the original assets. Incidentally, this is why Niko Bellic’s head shines like a polished copper basin in some screenshots—fans have already dubbed it the “wax effect,” but the developers promise to fix it in the next patch.
Performance, however, is a bit of a challenge. Even on an RTX 5090 with DLSS 4 enabled, a stable 60 FPS isn’t guaranteed. The developers confidently recommend setting the draw distance to 50 and shadow quality to 30 to avoid turning the game into a slideshow. The first launch may produce errors, but the community has already accumulated a database of solutions, mostly through config tweaks. If you tinker with the settings and achieve a smooth image, the polished graphics of Liberty City clearly demonstrate how far the industry has come in 18 years.
Player reactions are predictably divided. Some are delighted, saying this is the best way to return to Liberty City. Others complain that photorealism ruins the dark, oppressive atmosphere Rockstar established in 2008. Both sides are right in their own way. But the important thing is: the graphics aren’t the only aspect worth installing the mod for. It brings new life to the game: dynamic weather, volumetric lighting, realistic reflections—all of this changes the perception of familiar streets and makes the experience fresh even for veterans. Furthermore, development took about a year and a half, and version 1.4.0 isn’t final. The developers are clearly committed to polishing the project, but for now, this is the most striking example of how the community can reimagine a classic.
Is it worth installing? If you have a powerful PC (RTX 5080 or better) and are willing to tinker with the settings, it’s definitely worth it. This isn’t just an enhancement; it’s a completely different visual experience. With GTA VI set to release in November 2026, this mod feels especially timely—it shows what modern Liberty City might look like if Rockstar decided to remaster it. Until then, fans are making it. And they’re exceeding all expectations.
