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GTA 4 Keeps Getting Better-Looking on PC

The latest version of the iCEnhancer mod is now here, making Grand Theft Auto IV look better than ever.

168 Comments

The things that the modding community on PC can accomplish are downright amazing. Take the iCEnhancer mod for Grand Theft Auto IV, for example, which has just been updated once again and continues to make a six-year-old game look like something that could be released today.

With the release of the 3.0 update, a wide variety of graphical improvements for GTA IV have been added or further refined. You can see the full changelog outlined by the mod's creators here, but really all you need to do is check out the video above, which showcases the extent to which GTA IV's graphics are overhauled.

No Caption Provided

The mod's official website has crashed due to the flood of traffic it's received in the wake of the update's release, but the mod can still be downloaded elsewhere in the meantime. A list of download mirrors can be found here.

GTA IV without the use of any mods.
GTA IV without the use of any mods.

For those suffering low frame rates, a post on the mod's Facebook page offers some advice--the mod, understandably, is more resource-intensive than the game, which is a system hog in its own right. It's suggested that players open the file "icenhancer_config.txt," where you can tweak options to improve performance. "By default, it's on high quality," the post explains. "Reduce the godray quality, mostly to medium or low."

The sequel to GTA IV, Grand Theft Auto V, will finally arrive on PC later this year alongside Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions. These three new versions will sport much improved graphics over the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, as well as denser traffic and new wildlife, among other things.

Have you tried the iCEnhancer mod before? If so, let us know what your experience with it has been like in the comments below.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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PhilipO45

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Wow..i'm impressed as i have used the Levo version and modified it

over and over, but this version of Ice really looks amazing.


And i still play GTA:IV (pc) after some 4 yrs since it's pc release,

just like i love GTA:V since it's release.


GTA:IV has the better storyline and more verticality to it,

so playing in FP , it just feels immense.


GTA:V has alot more to do..and thankfully the much larger

map as well.


Still to this day, while i play most every AAA release on the pc

and console exclusives, there is nothing like playing a GTA

game for me, as the realism of it's world is unmatched.


I cannot wait for the pc version of GTA:V as the modding

scene will be insane and i'll be spending months modding it

over and over as well.


Hopefully Rockstar adds in VR support as well.

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suko1983

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San Andreas is still THE BEST GTA, you had everything in that game, everything, simply awesome.

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Microsteve

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Looks better than the so called next gen console GTAV lol #masterrace

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hypgnosis

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GTA V is a better game than 4. That's my opinion.Deal with it.

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Rushaoz

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Oh, thanks for your opinion! *Crumples it up and tosses it in the trash*

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MaXiMuS2oo9

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Because we all cared so much in the first place

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natanmir

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that's why GTA 4 is still a Winner!

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etgarmoyal

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<< LINK REMOVED >> saiy's the man with kakashi's mongoku sharingan LOL sasuka forever

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nighterrorx

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Modding is the main reason why I can't wait for GTA 5 on PC. No, not day one...but I am sure Gabe and Company will have it down to $7.95 in about a year or so. By then I will be ready to pick it up again.

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Alexander2cents

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Lets hope they mod this game to not be shitty.,

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Arda_Daghan212

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I enjoyed this game more than I enjoyed GTA V on the PS3. Played IV on the PS3 too mostly. The thing is, GTA IV left it to the players to have fun and enabled them to have funny moments, but the main theme was serious. I found V to be too whimsical, just sprouting with political jokes, hysteria and snide-comments throughout. Personally, the story is the most important aspect to me in video games. When games are obviously setting the story aside, then I don't care, I still enjoy the game. But the greatest games are the games with great stories. Assassin's Creed (Ezio), The Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption, this, Skyrim, Metal Gear Solid, etc. And Metal Gear Solid might be the best example for my taste, it's very story-driven, but relatively few easter eggs and such in random places that are just plain hilarious.

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fanirama

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Too bad the car physics and driving suck. And the map is really smallish for a GTA game. I've stopped playing this game long ago... these mods aren't enough to draw me back.


And GTA V looks amazing without these mods on the PS3 already. Would really look amazing with mods.

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jadehogg

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Song Title : Futurecop - Lost Love (Thunderclaw Remix)

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hitomo

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GTA V maybe better but Niko Bellic is one of the geatest Maincaracters ever ...

while GTA IVs maintheme is for sure the best 'theme' of all times


Soviet Connection by Michael Hunter:

/watch?v=jqE8M2ZnFL8 u have 20seconds to turn the volume up as loud as u can ^^

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chapan17

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anyone knows what song that is?

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Deivis_Sc

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Really nice. Looks way better indeed. Too bad about main character. But I wouldn't play this one again. I never thought GTA can be boring, b/c there always was something fun to do and mess up without doing missions. In here its only nice car explosions and pretty fun car physics. But blowing up cars gets old fast and missions are sooooo bad. Main character so lame too. And I don't like how clunky he feels. I know they tried to make it seem realistic, but its bit annoying and slugish. And its even more annoying how he falls down every time when you trying to do some of the GTA classics, or just when running and trip on something, cant say I need that in my games. Feels like wasting time. I know they using same stuff on GTA5, but maybe it won't be so bad. At least there is enough space to go wild.

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flashn00b

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There's a good chance that GTAV PC vanilla will look better than modded GTA4.

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PimpHand_Gamer

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6 years too late. Last thing I care to do is replay the only GTA in the series that sucked the most. Maybe get these graphics on San Adnreas or Vice City and it would be worthy of a replay.

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-S3R6i0-

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<< LINK REMOVED >> GTA IV > V. This video was nostalgic. Sure IV wasn't the best game but it wasn't without it's merits.

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theslovakian38

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I found it scary that both this video and the video in comments had my mind playing me thinking some parts were real life when it was just gta. This is amazing and really stunning. Seriously,

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k0k066

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let's see how gta v will look like with mods..... when it gets released that is.

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astralislux

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What about driving? Has the driving method been fixed? I remember it being so awkward.

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coolguyhero

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Come-on guys, why Rockstar can't make such game in the beginning. hats off to modders.

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Aeonia92

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<< LINK REMOVED >> also in 2008 not many people could play this at 15+ fps

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deactivated-654817e02be9b

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Time is money. They don't want to waste the money to make it look like this from the get go

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watchdogsrules

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the mod is amazing but i still can't believe that people even remember this game.

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Creed02

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Just imaging moding on gta v

9 • 
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NoahRoalson

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Still looks better than any "next gen" game xD

10 • 
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Darkhorse-Gamer

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I would check this mod. If any anyone interested in GTAIV mods then I highly recommend Danvsw ENB mod.


11 • 
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Rushaoz

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<< LINK REMOVED >> WOW don't know if it's because the ICEenhancer video is only in 720p and this one runs at 1440p but this DEFINITELY look better. BTW, how were you able to post a youtube link? Everytime I do I get pending.

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FroZen_Man02

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Does it work in conjunction with ICEnhancer Mod?

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Xmus942

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GTA V on PC will still look much better.

2 • 
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WolfgarTheQuiet

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Both games i finished before any mods came out. Two very forgettable GTA titles, which cannot be said for all previous games.

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Darkhol0w

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Not even close..unmodded GTA 5 won't look the same as this.

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Xmus942

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>

You're right it will look far better. It's not even really debatable. If you want to, compare the PC trailer with the gameplay video gamespot uploaded on their channel. It's part of their Shaun Method series.

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watchdogsrules

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> exactly

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yngsten

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>


quite right.

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DrKill09

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I REALLY hated GTA IV, but it'll be interesting to see what these guys can do with GTA V when it hits pc.


...I still may have to check this out, though.

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DrKill09

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WOW! Just tried it. Makes GTAIV look like next gen GTAV. The lighting is SOOO much better. No more shitty green/brown filter.

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DrKill09

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Okay, so now I have Icenhancer 3.0 AND Realistic Driving 1.3 installed... together they fix at least half of my problems with GTA IV. GOD DAMN! Looks better AND plays better now!


This should hold me over til GTA V hits pc. Now it looks and plays a TON more like it... and there is a Los Santos mod out there, too. Hmmm....


Damn I love pc gaming!

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