The browser-based version of Grand Theft Auto Vice City is no longer available online. The project has been taken offline after the developers received a takedown request from Take Two Interactive and Rockstar Games.
The unofficial version was created by the DosZone team and allowed players to run GTA Vice City directly in a web browser. It worked on both PCs and smartphones and did not require any installation. The project gained massive attention in a short time, which also brought it under the radar of the rights holders.
According to the developers, they received a preliminary DMCA notice issued on behalf of Take Two through EBRAND. The notice raised concerns about the use of the GTA Vice City name, official logos, visual assets, and core game logic in a browser format. The letter also claimed that the project could help bypass copyright protection systems, which would violate copyright and trademark laws.
As part of the request, DosZone was asked to remove the website and all content related to GTA and other Take Two titles. The team has confirmed that they complied with the order. Anyone trying to access the game now sees a message stating that it has been removed following a DMCA request from Take Two.
The DosZone team responded publicly with a mix of humor and appreciation. They said receiving a letter from Take Two was not a surprise, considering how widely the project was shared. In their statement, they mentioned that they even printed and framed the letter before shutting the project down as required.
The developers also said that the browser version of Vice City brought global attention to both their work and the DosZone platform. They described it as an important moment in their journey. While the Vice City project is now halted, the team made it clear that they are not stopping development. They plan to return after resolving legal obstacles and will continue working on other projects.
