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

The modder known as 'Dark Space,' who had crafted a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, has abruptly ceased all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games.

Dark Space's mod, which was freely available for download, drew on leaked coordinate data and official trailer footage of GTA 6. The modder shared gameplay videos on his YouTube channel, capturing the attention of eager GTA fans in January. These fans, hungry for any glimpse of the upcoming game, were keen to explore this fan-made rendition of what GTA 6 might offer upon its release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later this year.

However, the project's momentum was halted last week when Dark Space received a copyright strike from YouTube, prompted by a removal request from Take-Two. Multiple copyright strikes could lead to the termination of a YouTube channel, a serious threat to content creators.

In response, Dark Space proactively removed all download links to his mod, despite not yet being officially requested to do so by Take-Two. He also released a video on his channel, criticizing Take-Two's move and suggesting that the mod's accuracy to the anticipated GTA 6 map might have been too close for comfort.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space adopted a more philosophical stance, noting that he anticipated such action based on Take-Two's history of takedowns. He explained that his mod was partially based on a community mapping project for GTA 6, which utilized leaked coordinate points to accurately map out the game's world. Dark Space acknowledged that his mod might have spoiled the surprise of GTA 6's map for players, a reason he understood for its removal.

With the project now defunct, Dark Space expressed no intention of pursuing similar GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6, citing the risks involved. He plans to focus on creating content that his audience will enjoy.

There are now fears within the GTA community that the GTA 6 community mapping project could be the next target for Take-Two's legal actions. IGN has reached out to the group for their response.

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4 ImagesTake-Two's history of shutting down fan projects is well-documented, with a recent example being the takedown of the YouTube channel for the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' which sought to bring the world, cutscenes, and missions of the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's actions, explaining that the company is protecting its commercial interests. He cited examples like the 'VC NextGen Edition' competing with the 'Definitive Edition' and a Liberty City preservation project potentially clashing with a future GTA 4 remaster. Vermeij emphasized that while it's natural for companies to protect their business, they have been lenient with mods that do not interfere with their interests, such as the 'GTA3 for Dreamcast' project.

As fans eagerly await the release of GTA 6, they can stay informed with IGN's coverage on various topics, including insights from an ex-Rockstar developer on the possibility of GTA 6 delays, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick's thoughts on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6 launch, and expert analysis on whether the PS5 Pro can achieve 60 frames per second with GTA 6.