iCEnhancer, one of Grand Theft Auto 4’s most iconic visual mods, just got its first major update in almost 11 years with the launch of version 4.0. Made by Hayssam Keilany, the mod has built its name on dramatically improving GTA 4’s visuals: better lighting, sharper reflections, and an overall notable enhancement in quality.
Originally released in 2008, Grand Theft Auto 4 remains a fan favorite due to its gritty storytelling and immersive open world. The iCEnhancer mod first appeared in 2011, refreshing the game’s graphics significantly with more realistic lighting and textures, bringing Liberty City closer to a modern-day aesthetic. However, after version 3.0 was launched in 2014, Keilany experienced burnout, which, along with community pressure, led to the mod being put on hold indefinitely.
Keilany resurfaced in 2019, announcing he was back at work after a significant break. After some initial slow progress, the long wait is now over — iCEnhancer 4.0 was released on July 14, marking its largest update in over a decade. This new version introduces physically based lighting for the first time, providing a substantial technical enhancement over earlier builds of iCEnhancer. It also features faster shaders, significant improvements to fog and cloud rendering that influence the lighting engine, and better overall performance. Additional tweaks include more natural-looking skies, redesigned glass textures, and updated ENB support that addresses compatibility issues with Windows 11. Keilany describes this as the most stable and optimized version yet.
The release of iCEnhancer 4.0 has been positively received, with fans expressing their excitement about the long-awaited update. One player remarked it was “great to finally see” the release, noting that the “efforts really show.” Another player expressed their hope that the rumored port of GTA 4 would have visuals as sharp as the mod.
While no official announcements regarding a remaster or port for GTA 4 have been made, speculation continues briskly, aligning with the hype surrounding the eagerly awaited next installment in the series. Recently, fans observed that Manni L. Perez, the actress rumored to portray Lucia in GTA 6, has mysteriously disappeared from social media. Those following the developments for GTA 6 might want to mark August 7 on their calendars, as Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive, will have an earnings call that could reveal new details.
