The modder behind a fan-made recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map in Grand Theft Auto 5, known as 'Dark Space,' has ceased all work on the project following a takedown notice from Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two. Dark Space had created a free-to-download mod based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots of GTA 6, sharing gameplay footage on his YouTube channel. The mod and its associated videos gained significant attention in January, attracting eager fans awaiting the official release of GTA 6 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.
However, last week, Dark Space received a copyright strike notification from YouTube after Take-Two issued a removal request. Multiple such strikes could lead to the termination of his channel. In response, Dark Space removed all download links to his mod and addressed the situation in a video on his channel, suggesting that the accuracy of his map recreation might have prompted Take-Two's actions.
In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a philosophical stance on the takedown, noting that he anticipated such a move based on Take-Two's history of targeting fan projects. He speculated that his mod, which was partly based on an online community mapping project using leaked coordinates, may have threatened to spoil the surprise of GTA 6's map for players.
As a result, Dark Space has completely abandoned the project, 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 other content, avoiding further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the perceived risks.
Concerns now arise that the GTA 6 community mapping project could be next on Take-Two's list. IGN has reached out to the group for comment.
Take-Two's history of taking down fan projects includes the recent removal of the YouTube channel for the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' mod, which ported the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended the company's actions, emphasizing that Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their commercial interests. He noted that while fan projects like the 'VC NextGen Edition' directly compete with official releases, less competitive mods might be allowed to continue.
As the gaming community awaits GTA 6, IGN provides ongoing coverage, including insights from an ex-Rockstar developer on potential delays, comments from Take-Two's CEO on the future of GTA Online, and analyses on the performance of GTA 6 on the upcoming PS5 Pro.
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