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 project to recreate the Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) map within Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) following a takedown notice from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games. Dark Space's mod, which was free to download, was based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots from GTA 6. The mod gained significant attention in January, attracting GTA fans eager for any glimpse of what GTA 6 might offer upon its release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later this year.

Last week, Dark Space received a copyright strike notification from YouTube after Take-Two filed a removal request. Multiple copyright strikes could lead to the termination of his YouTube channel. In response, Dark Space removed all download links to his mod and posted a video on his channel criticizing Take-Two's actions. He speculated that the precision of his recreation of GTA 6's map might have been too close to the original, prompting the takedown.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed that he anticipated such a response from Take-Two, given their history of issuing takedowns against fan projects. He suggested that his mod's accuracy, derived from an online community mapping project and trailer footage, could have potentially spoiled the surprise of GTA 6's map for players. Dark Space acknowledged Take-Two's perspective, understanding that years of development could be undermined by premature exposure.

As a result, Dark Space has abandoned the project entirely, stating there is no point in continuing something that directly opposes Take-Two's interests. He plans to focus on creating content that his audience enjoys, steering clear of further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the risks involved.

Concerns have arisen that the GTA 6 community mapping project could be the next target of Take-Two's takedowns. IGN has reached out to the group for their response.

Take-Two has a track record of enforcing copyright against fan projects, including the recent takedown of the YouTube channel behind the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended these actions, stating that Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their business interests. Vermeij noted that mods like the 'VC NextGen Edition' and the 'Liberty City preservation project' could compete with official releases such as the Definitive Edition and potential future remasters.

While fans await the release of GTA 6, IGN offers additional coverage, including insights from a former Rockstar developer on potential delays, comments from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick on the future of GTA Online, and expert analysis on the performance capabilities of the PS5 Pro for GTA 6.

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