How to Install Mods on GTA: Vice City
4 March 2025
hardsham
Vice City has a unique 80s atmosphere. The game is full of references to movies and TV shows of that era, and all vehicles, weapons, and music match the time period. It's no surprise that many fans of the series still replay this part of GTA today. But it can be improved with various modifications. In this guide, we'll tell you what you need to do for that.
Automatic installation of mods on the standard version of GTA: Vice City
This instruction is suitable for the regular Vice City, which was released on PC in 2003.
- Install the base version of the game without mods.
- Download and install the CLEO library (for scripts), LuaLoader (for running additional missions), IMG Tools v 2.0 (for replacing cars), and Maxo (for adding new vehicles). You can choose the specific utility that matches your modification.
- Download the mod manager called ModLoader and unpack the archive into the game folder.
- Download the modification, unpack it, and move it to the ModLoader directory.
- Launch GTA: Vice City.
Manual installation of mods on the regular version of GTA: Vice City
How to install non-script mods
- Install GTA Vice City version 1.0 without modifications. Otherwise, there is a risk that the mod won't install.
- Make backup copies of the files you are going to replace, as well as the data and models folders located in the game directory. This is important, as the modification may not work.
- Download the IMG Editor program for working with .img archives.
- Download the archive with the modification and unpack it. Remember all the names of the vehicles, weapons, or other objects you are replacing.
- Launch IMG Editor and set the path to the folder, for example, Models. We will talk more about directories below.
- Open the GTA3.IMG file. It contains models of skins, vehicles, weapons, buildings, and items on the map's surface. If you need to install a mod that changes interior items, you need to look for them in the GTA_INT.IMG file.
- Find the .dff and .txd files you need to replace by name using IMG Tool. Use the search function if necessary. Click the Edit button, then Find, and then enter the name of the vehicle, firearm, or other game element your mod is related to (for example, “patriot.dff”).
- When you find the desired file, delete it from the .img archive.
- In the Commands menu, select ADD and open the folder with the unpacked mod. Select the modification files (.dff and .txd) you want to add. If there are several, you can install them all at once. Just select the objects to be replaced using the Shift key.
File types and where they are located:
- .dff and .txd — various 3D models and their textures. This can include vehicles, weapons, buildings, gang members, pedestrians, and much more. They are located in the GTA Vice City/models directory inside .img archives.
- .ide, .ipl, and .dat — lists of objects on the map, their exact locations, and configuration files. You will find them in the GTA Vice City/data folder.
- main.scm — the main script file of the game. It is located at GTA Vice City/data/script
- .ifp — animations. You will find them in the GTA Vice City/anim/ folder.
- .gxt — localization and in-game text. Located in the GTA Vice City/text/ folder.
- .asi and .dll — plugins that are located in the root folder of GTA Vice City. ASI Loader is used to run .asi files (it is installed together with CLEO).
- .cs — CLEO scripts. We will talk about them and other game plugins below.
How to change vehicle characteristics (handling settings)
Sometimes, to make a mod work, you need to manually change the characteristics of vehicles. As a rule, this involves the carcols.dat or handling.cfg files. They can be opened with any text editor, such as Notepad, which is available on every computer. If the mod author suggests adding a line with settings, you need to find a similar one. Delete it and add the set of characters specified in the mod description.
How to install script CLEO mods and plugins (.cs and .asi)
- Download the CLEO library and run the installer. Remember, the game folder is located by default at C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA Vice City.
- Download the archive with the modification and unpack it.
- Copy the contents of the CLEO mod (.cs) into the CLEO directory located in the game folder. If it does not exist, create it. Plugins (.asi) should be installed in the root folder of the game.
- Launch GTA Vice City.
Manual installation of mods for the remaster GTA Vice City: The Definitive Edition
This method will be useful for those who are going to modify the re-release of Vice City from the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy — The Definitive Edition collection.
- Download the archive with the mod and unpack it.
- Open the folder GTA Vice City — Definitive Edition\Gameface\Content\Paks\ and create a ~mods directory. If you already have it, skip this step.
- Copy the mod files into the ~mods folder.
- Launch the game.
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