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 officially ceased all work on his project that recreated the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, following a takedown notice from Take-Two, the parent company 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 shots of GTA 6. His project garnered significant attention in January, with eager GTA fans rushing to experience a fan-made version of the anticipated GTA 6 map ahead of its official release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.

The situation escalated last week when Dark Space received a copyright strike from YouTube, triggered by a removal request from Take-Two. Faced with the potential termination of his channel due to multiple copyright strikes, Dark Space took the initiative to remove all download links to his mod. He also posted a response video on his channel, criticizing Take-Two's actions and suggesting that the accuracy of his mod's depiction of the GTA 6 map might have been the reason behind the takedown.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a more resigned perspective, stating that he anticipated such a response from Take-Two given their history of takedowns. He acknowledged that his project was based on an online community mapping effort that used leaked coordinates to accurately map out the GTA 6 world, which could have spoiled the surprise for fans and potentially undermined the excitement around the game's official launch.

Understanding Take-Two's position, Dark Space remarked, "If you spent years building out this amazing game world just to have some YouTuber spoil the experience of the map's shape, size, and vibe... I'd want it removed too." Consequently, he has decided to abandon the project entirely, recognizing that continuing would be futile given Take-Two's clear stance against its existence.

Dark Space also expressed his intention to shift focus to creating content that is less likely to attract legal action, indicating he will no longer pursue GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the associated risks.

There is now speculation within the community about whether the GTA 6 community mapping project itself might be targeted next by Take-Two. IGN has reached out to the group for their comments on the matter.

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4 ImagesTake-Two's history of targeting fan projects extends to the recent takedown of the YouTube channel behind the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' which brought the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, has defended Take-Two and Rockstar's actions, emphasizing that as a commercial entity, the companies are obligated to protect their business interests. He pointed out that mods like the 'VC NextGen Edition' directly compete with official releases like the Definitive Edition, and other projects could interfere with potential future remasters.

Vermeij advised against anger over such actions, suggesting that the best fans can hope for is that Take-Two allows mods that do not conflict with their business plans, such as the 'DCA3' project for GTA 3 on the Dreamcast.

While awaiting the release of GTA 6, fans can stay updated with IGN's coverage on related topics, including insights from a former Rockstar developer on potential delays, Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick's comments on the future of GTA Online, and expert analysis on the performance capabilities of the PS5 Pro with GTA 6.