A captivating find has transpired at a car boot sale in Edinburgh, where an archaic edition of Rockstar’s “Grand Theft Auto IV” was allegedly uncovered on an Xbox 360 development kit. This edition, which traces back to November 2007, is approximately six months before the game’s official release. It features a discarded model for a Liberty City river ferry, which was previously included in a promotional trailer but ultimately did not appear in the final game.
The authenticity of the development hardware, characterized as “a phat white Xbox 360 XDK with a Rockstar North label on it,” hinges on the claims made by the purchaser. Nonetheless, former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij has validated that a ferry was indeed intended for GTA IV, although he possesses limited details regarding the materials tied to what appears to be a shelved zombie minigame for GTA IV.
This find illuminates the development journey of one of the most legendary open-world games and emphasizes the modifications and omissions made prior to its ultimate release. The existence of these assets presents a compelling insight into the creative choices surrounding the game’s development.