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 had released 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, the owners of Rockstar Games.

Dark Space's project, which was freely downloadable, was based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots from GTA 6. He shared gameplay footage on his YouTube channel, which garnered significant attention in January as eager GTA fans sought to explore a fan-made version of the upcoming game set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.

However, the excitement was short-lived. Last week, Dark Space received a copyright strike from YouTube after Take-Two issued a removal request. Multiple copyright strikes could lead to the termination of his YouTube channel.

In response, Dark Space proactively removed all download links to his mod, even though Take-Two had not yet demanded their removal. He also posted a video on his channel criticizing Take-Two's actions, hinting that the accuracy of his recreation of the GTA 6 map might have been too close for comfort.

In an interview with IGN, Dark Space adopted a more philosophical stance. He acknowledged the inevitability of such takedowns based on Take-Two's history and expressed understanding of their motives. He suggested that his mod might have spoiled the surprise of the GTA 6 map, which could explain Take-Two's aggressive stance.

As a result, Dark Space has decided to abandon the project entirely, stating, "Well they clearly do not want this project to exist... There’s no point putting more time into something that goes directly against what they’re willing to allow." He plans to focus on creating content that his audience enjoys but will steer clear of any future GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6, citing the risks involved.

There are now concerns that the GTA 6 community mapping project, which Dark Space's mod was partially based on, could be the next target for Take-Two. IGN has reached out to the group for their comments on this matter.

GTA 6 Key Art's Hidden Map..?

4 ImagesTake-Two's history of enforcing copyright includes the takedown of the YouTube channel behind the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' a mod that ported the world, cutscenes, and missions of 2002's Vice City into 2008's GTA 4.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's actions, explaining that the company is protecting its business interests. He noted that mods like the VC NextGen Edition directly compete with official releases such as the Definitive Edition, while other mods could interfere with potential future projects like a GTA 4 remaster.

While fans await the official release of GTA 6, they can stay updated with IGN's coverage, which includes insights from an ex-Rockstar developer on potential delays, statements from Take-Two's CEO about GTA Online's future, and expert opinions on the performance of GTA 6 on the upcoming PS5 Pro.