Another mod for GTA 5 did not last long — lawyers forced the removal of the recreated GTA 6 map.
Take-Two Interactive’s lawyers quickly took notice of a mod by Dark Space that created a map of Rockstar’s upcoming game. It was based on leaks and trailers that seemed to be quite close to reality. Although it was not an exact replica of the future world — the overall scale, street layout, and the key benchmarks were in line with what we have already seen. That’s why the Dark Space modder got a strike on YouTube.
«My guess is that the map was probably a little too accurate. They must feel some sort of threat from it existing, because they feel that having a playable version of the map to drive around in could ruin the surprise and newness of GTA 6 when it releases», — says Dark Space.
Still, unlike the official GTA 6, the map was quite simple: no NPCs, no vehicles, and no objects carried over from GTA 5. Nevertheless, it provided an opportunity to estimate the scale and atmosphere of the upcoming GTA 6. Thanks to this, the mod received good publicity in the community until YouTube removed the Dark Space video due to copyright infringement. This was a signal to the modder that even if Take-Two did not demand the mod’s complete removal, the next step could be much tougher.
Take Two interactive has copyright claimed and removed my video on the GTA 6 map I made in GTA 5. I expected something like this could happen. I am surprised they didn’t bother emailing me. I would have taken it down if asked.
— Dark Space (@Dark_SpaceYT) March 23, 2025
Dark Space is convinced that the company considers such mods a threat. Most likely, the developers are afraid that such leaks can spoil the «novelty effect» after the official release.
As a result, the mod itself was not forcibly removed, but Dark Space decided to remove the download link on its own. The modder thought that removing the map would be smarter than waiting for an official letter from the lawyers of a large and influential studio. In addition to wasting his time working on the mod, the strike deprived him of a month’s income. But the modder is confident that GTA 6 sales would not have been affected by his vision of the map.
«In reality, my map does not negatively affect their sales. It was building hype around the game and giving players something to enjoy while we waited for the next trailer from Rockstar. When will these companies learn to stop attacking their own feet? Because it’s thanks to the community of players and modders that these companies can stand», — Dark Space summarizes.
For my next video, I’ve been working hard at making the GTA 6 community map real. Here’s a look at my progress so far: pic.twitter.com/ejPu3EWKqa
— Dark Space (@Dark_SpaceYT) January 25, 2025
This is not the first time Take-Two and Rockstar have fought with fan projects. Previously, mods that transferred Liberty City and Vice City maps to GTA 5, as well as VR versions of GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2, were distributed. Take-Two also removed a mod for GTA 5 that added AI to the characters in the game.
Will Take-Two’s attitude towards modders change after the release of GTA 6? It is unlikely. The company has repeatedly proved that it does not like any fan initiatives if they somehow affect its franchises. Meanwhile, another fan project has disappeared into the Internet archives. However, earlier insiders assumed that in GTA 6 the attitude towards mods would be more democratic.
Also, Rockstar acquires GTA Trilogy developers but those who were responsible for a flurry of criticism over GTA Trilogy bugs. It is not yet known what Rockstar Australia will be working on, but it is likely to be additional content, updates, or even VR projects for Rockstar.
Source: PC Gamer
