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 created a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, has officially ended the project following a copyright takedown from Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games.

Dark Space had developed a free-to-download mod that utilized leaked coordinate data and official trailer visuals from GTA 6. He shared gameplay footage on his YouTube channel, which gained significant attention in January among eager GTA fans looking for a taste of what GTA 6 might offer when it launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.

However, the project came to an abrupt halt when Dark Space received a copyright strike from YouTube, prompted by a takedown notice from Take-Two. Faced with the potential termination of his channel after multiple strikes, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to his mod and addressed the situation in a response video. He speculated that the accuracy of his map recreation might have been too close to the actual GTA 6 map, prompting the takedown.

In an interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a resigned acceptance of the situation, noting that he had anticipated such a move based on Take-Two's history of targeting fan projects. He acknowledged that his mod, built partly on an online community mapping project and official trailer shots, might have spoiled the surprise of GTA 6's map for players.

Consequently, Dark Space has decided to abandon the project entirely, recognizing that Take-Two's actions clearly indicated their unwillingness to allow the mod to exist. He plans to focus on creating other content that his audience enjoys, steering clear of further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the potential risks involved.

Concerns are now rising within the GTA 6 community that the mapping project Dark Space utilized could be Take-Two's next target. IGN has reached out to the group for their perspective on the matter.

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4 ImagesTake-Two's history of clamping down on fan projects is well-documented, with a recent example being the takedown of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' YouTube channel, which aimed to port elements from the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, has defended Take-Two's actions, emphasizing that the company is protecting its commercial interests. Vermeij noted that mods like the 'VC NextGen Edition' compete directly with official releases such as the Definitive Edition, while other projects could impact potential future remasters.

As fans eagerly await the release of GTA 6, they can explore IGN's ongoing coverage, including insights from a former Rockstar developer on potential delays, comments from Take-Two's CEO on the future of GTA Online, and expert analysis on the performance capabilities of the PS5 Pro for GTA 6.