The modder known as 'Dark Space,' who had released a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, has ceased all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two Interactive, the owner of Rockstar Games.
Dark Space's mod was a free-to-download version of the GTA 5 map, crafted using leaked coordinate data and official trailer footage from GTA 6. The mod gained significant attention in January, drawing in eager GTA fans who were keen to explore a fan-made version of the forthcoming game's world ahead of its official release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later this year.
However, the mod's popularity was short-lived. Last week, Dark Space received a copyright strike notification from YouTube, triggered by a removal request from Take-Two. Multiple such strikes could lead to the termination of a YouTube channel, prompting Dark Space to proactively remove all download links to his mod, even though Take-Two had not yet demanded this action. In a response video, he criticized the company, suggesting that the accuracy of his mod's map might have been the cause of the takedown.
In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space adopted a more philosophical stance, admitting that he anticipated such a response from Take-Two based on their history of similar actions. He believed his mod, which drew heavily on a community mapping project using leaked coordinates, might have spoiled the surprise of GTA 6's map for players.
Understanding Take-Two's perspective, Dark Space noted that the company would naturally want to protect the reveal of their meticulously crafted game world. Consequently, he has decided to abandon the project entirely, stating, "Well they clearly do not want this project to exist... There’s no point putting more time into something that goes directly against what they’re willing to allow."
Moving forward, Dark Space plans to focus on creating content that his audience enjoys, steering clear of any further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the potential legal risks involved. There is now apprehension within the GTA community that the GTA 6 mapping project could be the next target for Take-Two's legal actions, with IGN reaching out to the group for their response.
Take-Two's history of taking down fan projects is well-documented, with a recent example being the takedown of the YouTube channel for the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod, which updated the 2002 game to run on the 2008 GTA 4 engine. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended these actions, explaining that Take-Two and Rockstar are simply protecting their business interests. Vermeij highlighted that fan projects like the 'VC NextGen Edition' directly compete with official releases like the Definitive Edition, while others could interfere with potential future remasters.
As fans await the release of GTA 6, they can stay updated with IGN's coverage, including insights from a former Rockstar developer on potential delays, comments from Take-Two's CEO about the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6, and expert analysis on the performance capabilities of the PS5 Pro with GTA 6.
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