"GTA 6 Map Mod in GTA 5 Taken Down by Take-Two, Creator Says It Was Too Accurate"

The modder known as 'Dark Space' has ceased all work on his ambitious project—a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5—following a takedown notice from Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two. Dark Space had crafted a free-to-download mod using leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots of GTA 6, which he shared alongside gameplay footage on his YouTube channel. The mod and its associated videos drew significant attention in January, as eager GTA fans sought to explore a fan-made version of the eagerly anticipated GTA 6 landscape, set to officially launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later this year.

However, Dark Space's efforts were curtailed last week when he received a copyright strike notification from YouTube, triggered by a removal request from Take-Two. Aware that multiple copyright strikes could lead to the termination of his channel, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to his mod, despite not being directly asked to do so by Take-Two. In a response video, he criticized the company's actions, hinting that the accuracy of his map recreation might have been the cause of the takedown.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a philosophical acceptance of the situation, citing Take-Two's history of similar takedowns. He suggested that his mod's basis on a community mapping project, which meticulously mapped out GTA 6's virtual world using leaked coordinates, might have been perceived as spoiling the game's surprises. "I think my map could have ruined the surprise of their map, which I get," he stated, understanding Take-Two's perspective in protecting their meticulously crafted game world.

As a result, Dark Space has abandoned the project entirely, recognizing that Take-Two's stance leaves no room for its continuation. He plans to focus on creating content that does not infringe on Take-Two's interests, steering clear of future GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6. There is now speculation that the GTA 6 community mapping project might be the next target for Take-Two's legal actions, with IGN reaching out for comments on the matter.

Take-Two's history of enforcing copyrights includes the recent takedown of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' YouTube channel, which attempted to port elements from the 2002 Vice City into the 2008 GTA 4. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended these actions, emphasizing that Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their commercial interests. He noted that while fans might be frustrated, such actions are expected from a business perspective, and he expressed hope that non-competitive mods might be allowed to continue.

As the gaming community awaits the release of GTA 6, IGN continues to cover related developments, including insights from former Rockstar developers on potential delays, statements from Take-Two's leadership on the future of GTA Online, and technical analyses on the performance capabilities of the upcoming PS5 Pro for running GTA 6.

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