The modder behind a fan-made recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, known as 'Dark Space,' has abruptly halted all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games.
Dark Space's project, which was freely downloadable, was built using leaked coordinate data and official trailer visuals from GTA 6. It garnered significant attention in January, attracting eager GTA fans who were keen to explore a fan-crafted version of the much-anticipated GTA 6 map ahead of its official release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.
However, the project came to a sudden halt last week when Take-Two issued a copyright strike against Dark Space's YouTube channel, where he had shared gameplay footage of the mod. Faced with the threat of channel termination due to multiple copyright strikes, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to the mod, despite not receiving a direct request from Take-Two to do so. In a response video, he criticized Take-Two's actions, suggesting that the accuracy of his map recreation might have been too close to the real thing for the company's comfort.
In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a resigned yet understanding attitude towards the takedown. He acknowledged that he had anticipated such a response given Take-Two's history of targeting fan projects. Dark Space speculated that his mod's reliance on a community mapping project, which uses leaked coordinates to precisely outline the GTA 6 world, might have been seen as spoiling the game's surprises for the wider audience.
With the project now completely discontinued, Dark Space has decided to shift his focus away from modding GTA 5 in relation to GTA 6, citing the risks involved. He plans to continue creating content that his audience enjoys.
There are now fears within the GTA 6 community that the collaborative mapping project could be the next target of Take-Two's legal actions. IGN has reached out to the group for their response.
Take-Two's history of enforcing copyright includes the recent takedown of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' YouTube channel, which had been working on porting Vice City into the GTA 4 engine. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's actions, emphasizing that the company is simply protecting its business interests. Vermeij noted that while fan mods that do not compete with commercial products are often tolerated, those that directly impact business, such as the Vice City mod competing with the Definitive Edition, are typically targeted.
As fans eagerly await GTA 6, they can stay updated with IGN's coverage on various related topics, including the potential for delays, the future of GTA Online, and the performance expectations for GTA 6 on the upcoming PS5 Pro.
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