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 crafted a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, has officially halted all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games.

Dark Space had made available a free-to-download version of the GTA 5 mod, which was pieced together using leaked coordinate data and official trailer visuals of GTA 6. His efforts quickly captured the attention of the gaming community, especially among eager GTA fans looking for a glimpse of what to expect when GTA 6 officially releases on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later this year.

The situation escalated when Take-Two issued a copyright removal request, leading to a strike on Dark Space's YouTube channel. Fearing further repercussions, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to his mod and voiced his frustration in a response video, hinting that the accuracy of his recreation might have been too close to the actual GTA 6 map for Take-Two's comfort.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a more resigned attitude, noting that he anticipated such action from Take-Two, given their history of targeting similar projects. He speculated that his mod, which drew heavily on a community-driven mapping project using leaked coordinates, might have threatened to spoil the surprise of GTA 6's world for players.

Understanding Take-Two's stance, 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 ceased all work on the mod, stating, "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 aligns more safely with his audience's interests, steering clear of further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6. Meanwhile, there are growing concerns within the community that the GTA 6 mapping project could be the next target of Take-Two's legal actions.

Take-Two's history of cracking down on fan projects is well-documented, with recent actions including the takedown of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' YouTube channel. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, has defended these moves, arguing that both Take-Two and Rockstar are simply protecting their commercial interests.

As anticipation builds for the release of GTA 6, IGN continues to provide comprehensive coverage on related developments, including insights from former Rockstar employees and expert opinions on the game's potential impact on the gaming industry.

GTA 6 Key Art's Hidden Map..?

4 ImagesTake-Two has previously taken action against fan projects, such as the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' which aimed to bring the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, has defended these actions, emphasizing that Take-Two and Rockstar are within their rights to protect their business interests. Vermeij pointed out that projects like the 'VC NextGen Edition' directly compete with official releases like the Definitive Edition, while others could interfere with potential future remasters.

While awaiting the release of GTA 6, fans can stay updated with IGN's coverage, including discussions on potential release delays, the future of GTA Online, and technical analyses of the game's performance on next-gen consoles.