Take-Two Interactive, responsible for franchises such as Grand Theft Auto, has once again intervened directly against fan-made projects. This time, the company ordered the removal of a mod that took part of the GTA 6 map to GTA 5, developed based on the 2022 leaks and the official trailer released in December.
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The project, created by a creator identified as DarkSpace, allowed players to explore a recreation of Vice City within the current version of the game. The creator was aware of the legal risks, but was surprised by the speed and severity of the company's action.
Take-Two removed the mod's presentation video from YouTube without warning, alleging copyright infringement. According to the developer, the company removed the content without providing any room for discussion.
To avoid further conflict with the company, he also decided to delete the mod's download links. He stated that he created the project out of passion, not for profit, and that he worked for months to complete it.
Mod community suffers from increasingly frequent bans from Take-Two
Take-Two's stance toward the modding community has become increasingly harsh, especially as the release of GTA 6, scheduled for 2025, approaches. The company has shut down several projects in recent years.
One of the most well-known cases involved the attempt to port Liberty City—a fictional city from the series—to GTA 5. Like the recent mod, this one was also the target of copyright claims and was eventually discontinued.
Despite this history, the community continues to produce content that expands or recreates elements of Rockstar games. However, by using excerpts from official materials, such as trailers or files from leaked versions, these creators face the risk of immediate sanctions. Take-Two states that any mod related to the new title violates its guidelines, even for non-commercial purposes.
Expectations for GTA 6 create conflict between fan hype and company policy
With the growing anticipation surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI, the number of fans interested in anticipating the new game's experiences through recreations in GTA 5 is also increasing. The removed mod recreated scenarios that referred to the new Vice City, the city that will be the setting for the next title in the franchise.
The idea was to allow players to preview the map in 2024. However, this type of initiative directly contradicts the company's guidelines, which seek to strictly control the disclosure and use of any element related to the upcoming release.
The dispute between intellectual property and community creation remains a sensitive topic in the gaming industry. For fans, mods are ways to honor and expand games. For companies, they can pose legal and commercial risks.
With the upcoming release of GTA 6 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X, the trend is for Take-Two to further strengthen its action against modifications involving the title, signaling a period of tension between developers and the community.
