GTA 6 Map in GTA 5 Mod Suffers Inevitable Take-Two Takedown, Creator Believes It Was 'Probably a Little Too Accurate' and 'Could Have Ruined the Surprise'

The modder known as 'Dark Space,' who released a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, has ceased all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two, the owner of Rockstar Games.

Dark Space had crafted a free-to-download mod based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer visuals from GTA 6, sharing gameplay footage on his YouTube channel. His creation garnered significant attention in January, attracting GTA fans eager for a glimpse of what GTA 6 might offer upon its release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later this year.

However, last week, Dark Space encountered a copyright strike from YouTube after Take-Two issued a removal request. Multiple copyright strikes can lead to channel termination, a serious concern for content creators.

In response, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to his mod, despite not being directly instructed to do so by Take-Two. He also released a video on his channel, criticizing Take-Two's actions and hinting that the mod's accurate depiction of GTA 6's map may have prompted the takedown.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a more resigned perspective, noting that he anticipated such a move based on Take-Two's history of targeting fan projects. He suggested that his mod's use of data from a community mapping project, which meticulously mapped out the upcoming game's world, might have been seen as spoiling the surprise for future players.

Dark Space acknowledged Take-Two's perspective, understanding their desire to protect the unveiling of their meticulously crafted game world. As a result, he has decided to abandon the project entirely, seeing no point in continuing something that clearly conflicts with Take-Two's interests. He plans to focus on other content creation, steering clear of further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the potential risks involved.

Concerns have also arisen that the GTA 6 community mapping project could be next on Take-Two's list of targets. IGN has reached out to the group for their response.

GTA 6 Key Art's Hidden Map..?

4 ImagesTake-Two's actions are not isolated incidents; they have a history of targeting fan projects, including the recent takedown of the YouTube channel for the creators of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' which aimed to port elements from the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's stance, stating that the company is merely protecting its business interests. He highlighted that mods like the 'VC NextGen Edition' and the 'Liberty City preservation project' could interfere with official releases such as the Definitive Edition and potential remasters.

While awaiting the release of GTA 6, fans can explore IGN's coverage on various related topics, including insights from a former Rockstar developer about possible delays, comments from Take-Two's CEO on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6, and expert opinions on the performance capabilities of the PS5 Pro for running GTA 6.