GTA Vice City, a classic 2002 action-adventure game, can now be played entirely within a web browser, including support for touchscreens and game controllers. This achievement is made possible by a project named reVCDOS, which is built on reVC—a recompilation of the original game engine into WebAssembly by the team at DOS.Zone. Unlike traditional emulation, which mimics the original hardware, this project allows the game's original engine to run directly in the browser, offering a more authentic experience.
Players can use a keyboard and mouse, a game controller, or even their fingers on a smartphone, whether in portrait or landscape mode. The game retains its original cheat system, allowing players to enter commands as they were designed. Additionally, users can apply custom modifications using .dff and .txt files, which are commonly used in GTA modding, without needing to convert them first.
To play, the original Vice City data files are required. These files can be obtained through five methods outlined on the project’s website, including direct download, torrent, or by providing the files manually as a folder, individual files, or a compressed zip. The article suggests downloading the files directly to avoid potential legal issues related to piracy.
The game is available on Steam as the Definitive Edition for 59.99 euros. For those who prefer self-hosted setups, the project’s GitHub page offers binaries and a Docker image to help users convert their files into the required format. The initial download size is about 50 megabytes, with more data loading as the game is played.
However, there is a known issue with local saves, which have been broken for months. The project’s author mentioned on their forum that "saves are only available with a subscription," meaning players either must complete the game without saving progress or attempt to fix the issue themselves. Additionally, the project has faced legal challenges, as Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has previously removed the port using DMCA takedown notices. Despite this, the article encourages users to enjoy the project while it remains accessible.
GTA Vice City Runs in Browser via Open-Source Project, Despite Legal Challenges
AI-rewritten from original reportingHow it works
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