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 ceased all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two Interactive, the owners of Rockstar Games.
Dark Space's mod, which was free to download, was built using leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots from GTA 6. He shared gameplay footage on his YouTube channel, attracting significant attention from eager GTA fans in January, eager to get a glimpse of what the upcoming game 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 removal request from Take-Two. Faced with the potential termination of his channel due to multiple strikes, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to his mod, even though he had not yet been directly asked to do so by Take-Two. He also posted a response video on his channel, criticizing the company's actions and suggesting that the accuracy of his mod's map to the actual GTA 6 map might have been the reason for the takedown.
In an interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a philosophical stance on the situation, indicating that he anticipated such a response based on Take-Two's history of takedowns. He speculated that the mod's basis on a community mapping project, which used leaked coordinates to accurately map out the GTA 6 world, might have been a red flag for Take-Two, potentially spoiling the surprise for players. Dark Space acknowledged the company's perspective, understanding that if he were in their position, he might also want to protect the unveiling of their meticulously crafted game world.
Consequently, Dark Space has ended his GTA 6 mod project entirely, stating there is no point in continuing something that directly opposes Take-Two's wishes. He plans to focus on creating content that his audience enjoys but will avoid further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6, citing the risks involved.
There are now concerns that the GTA 6 community mapping project could be the next target for Take-Two, with IGN reaching out to the group for comment.
Take-Two has a track record of enforcing copyrights, notably taking down the YouTube channel of the creators of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' which ported elements from the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended these actions, stating that Take-Two and Rockstar are simply protecting their commercial interests, particularly when mods could compete with their official releases.
As the gaming community awaits the official release of GTA 6, IGN continues to cover related news, including insights from ex-Rockstar developers on potential delays, comments from Take-Two's leadership on the future of GTA Online, and discussions on whether the upcoming PS5 Pro can run GTA 6 at 60 frames per second.
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