Description

Background:

Ivan Bytchkov (Russian: Иван Бычков) is a supporting character in Grand Theft Auto IV and makes a cameo appearance in The Lost and Damned. Depending on player actions, Ivan may also appear as a random character.

Character Overview

Ivan is a member of the Faustin Bratva, led by Mikhail Faustin, and serves as a personal henchman to Vladimir Glebov. Within the crime syndicate, he operates both as an enforcer and a burglar.

Born in Russia around 1966, Ivan emigrated to the United States in the early 1990s, settling in Hove Beach, a neighborhood predominantly inhabited by Eastern European immigrants. By the early 2000s, Ivan was deeply involved with Mikhail Faustin’s Russian Mafia and formed a close friendship with loan shark Vladimir Glebov. He faced legal troubles, being arrested twice—once in 2000 for embezzlement and again in 2004 for burglary.

After being saved by Niko, Ivan severs his ties with the Russian Mafia and relocates to Alderney, where he starts a money-lending business primarily operating around Acter. Upon re-encountering Niko Bellic, Ivan is unaware that Niko is responsible for Vlad’s disappearance, a fact that complicates their reunion.

Reunion with Niko

Ivan meets Niko again sometime after the opening of the Alderney-Algonquin bridge on Mueri Street. He holds no animosity toward Niko for the attempted violence, expressing gratitude instead for being spared. The two share insights into their recent endeavors, with Ivan revealing his new profession and that he is now engaged to an American woman. He then invites Niko to help him collect debts from several hustlers.

The meeting with the hustlers occurs near the Lost MC Clubhouse, where they attempt to ambush Ivan and Niko. Despite being outnumbered, the duo succeeds in defeating the hustlers and reclaiming Ivan’s money. In gratitude, Ivan rewards Niko with a share of the collected funds.

Character Reflection

Initially, Ivan seemed unremarkable to players. However, he serves as a poignant reminder of the treachery exemplified by Vlad—a backstabbing, deceitful man who was only interested in power and control. Ivan is notable as the first character the player can choose to spare or kill, with many opting for mercy, highlighting Niko’s moral compass in a world rife with corruption.

Ivan’s character displays facial animations compatible with GTA V‘s base NPC models, though he lacks cutscene facial animations due to their complexity. For those looking to involve him in missions or cutscenes, it is advisable to utilize a mod called Character Swap.

Installation Instructions

Requirements:

Install “addonpeds.”

Installation:

Add the four files for “ig_ivan” to the addon peds pack by following this path:

Grand Theft Auto V / mods / update / x64 / dlcpacks / addonpeds / dlc.rpf / peds.rpf.

Alternatively, you can install it as a replacement. Simply rename the ped file to your preferred name (e.g., changing “ig_ivan” to “ig_barry” to replace that model).