Liberty City GTA 5 Mod Shut Down Following Contact with Rockstar Games
A highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 5 mod recreating Liberty City has been discontinued. The news follows the mod's popularity in 2024. While some game developers embrace modding, others, like Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two Interactive, are known for aggressive takedowns.
The modding team, World Travel, behind the "Liberty City Preservation Project," announced the shutdown on their Discord server. They cited "unexpected attention" and conversations with Rockstar Games as the reason for removing the mod. While the specifics remain undisclosed, the team expressed their continued passion for GTA modding.
Another Casualty of Aggressive Mod Policies
Although World Travel hasn't confirmed coercion, many players suspect the mod's closure resulted from legal pressure. Contact from Rockstar Games likely involved warnings about potential legal action, such as a DMCA takedown. Independent modders, often lacking legal representation, typically comply with such notices.
The community's reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with many criticizing Rockstar and Take-Two's aggressive stance on modding. This is especially frustrating given the absence of Liberty City in the upcoming GTA 6, which currently features Vice City. Concerns about impacting GTA 4 sales seem unfounded, as playing the mod still requires owning GTA 5.
Despite the setback, World Travel intends to pursue future GTA modding projects. However, Take-Two's approach to modding doesn't appear likely to change, leaving the future of fan-made content uncertain.
