Before GTA 6, Dive Back Into Vice City: Fan Mod Adds Entire New Storyline
The wait for Grand Theft Auto VI has been long, marked by delays and anticipation. But for fans eager to return to the franchise’s unique brand of open-world chaos, a new fan-made creation offers the perfect detour—straight back to the 1980s.
A mod pack titled “The Backstabber’s Blues,” created by the team at Northstar Games, has begun rolling out for the classic Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The mod introduces a complete new storyline set within the familiar neon-drenched streets of the original game, giving players a fresh perspective on the world they thought they knew.
A Story from Lance’s Perspective
The mod places players in the role of Lance, a character who played a significant supporting role in the original Vice City plotline. Rather than simply revisiting the same missions, “The Backstabber’s Blues” offers an entirely new 12-mission narrative that explores Lance’s story, allowing players to interact with iconic characters from the original release in new and unexpected ways.
The trailer, recently shared by the mod creators, showcases the game’s intentionally retro graphics—a stylistic choice that actually enhances the 80s vibe rather than detracting from it. The rough edges of the 2002 engine give the experience an authentic period feel that modern hyper-realistic graphics simply cannot replicate.
A Labor of Love
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City first arrived on PlayStation 2 and PC in 2002, making it over two decades old. Yet the game has maintained a dedicated following, thanks to its distinctive art deco-meets-neon aesthetic, its perfectly curated 80s soundtrack, and perhaps most importantly, its highly moddable codebase.
This active modding community has kept Vice City alive across multiple generations of hardware, adapting it for modern PCs and even console ports. “The Backstabber’s Blues” represents one of the most ambitious fan projects to date, essentially functioning as a whole new game built on the foundation of the original.
Why Now?
The timing of this release is no accident. GTA VI has faced multiple delays, pushing its release window to late 2025 or early 2026. For fans hungry for new experiences in the Grand Theft Auto universe, replaying the same old storylines has lost its appeal.
“The Backstabber’s Blues” fills that gap perfectly. It offers familiar mechanics and setting but with fresh narrative content, giving players something genuinely new to explore while they wait for Rockstar’s next magnum opus.
What’s Available Now
The first chapter of “The Backstabber’s Blues” is now available for download via Liberty City, the modding hub where the project is hosted. The creators have confirmed that future chapters are in development, suggesting this could evolve into a full episodic experience.
Fan reaction in the comments sections has been overwhelmingly positive. Players who have already downloaded the mod praise its attention to detail and its respect for the source material while still carving out its own identity.
How to Play
For those interested in revisiting Vice City with this new content, the requirements are straightforward. Players need a legitimate copy of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for PC, along with the mod files available from the Liberty City website. Installation instructions are provided by the creators, though as with all mods, users should proceed at their own risk and ensure they are downloading from official sources.
The Bottom Line
While the gaming world eagerly awaits GTA VI’s promised innovations, “The Backstabber’s Blues” serves as a reminder that great games never truly age. With a dedicated community and a willingness to explore untold stories, Vice City lives on—and now, it has new tales to tell.