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 copyright takedown from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games.
Dark Space's mod was based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots of GTA 6, offering fans a free-to-download experience that garnered significant attention in January. The mod, along with gameplay footage shared on his YouTube channel, attracted a large audience eager for any glimpse of the upcoming game.
However, the excitement was short-lived. Last week, Dark Space received a copyright strike notification from YouTube after Take-Two issued a removal request. Fearing further action, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to the mod, despite not being directly requested to do so by Take-Two. In a response video on his channel, he criticized Take-Two's move, suggesting that the accuracy of his recreation might have been the trigger.
In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a philosophical acceptance of the situation, noting that he anticipated such an outcome given Take-Two's history of takedowns. He speculated that his mod's close approximation to the actual GTA 6 map might have threatened to spoil the surprise for fans, a concern he understands from Take-Two's perspective.
Consequently, 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 also mentioned he would refrain from creating similar mods in the future, citing the potential risks involved.
The incident raises concerns about the future of the GTA 6 community mapping project, which uses leaked data to map out the game's world. IGN has reached out to the group for their response.
Take-Two's actions align with their past behavior, as seen with the takedown of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' YouTube channel, which aimed to port Vice City into the GTA 4 engine. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's stance, emphasizing that such moves are standard for protecting business interests.
As fans await the official release of GTA 6 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall, they can stay updated with IGN's ongoing coverage of related developments, including insights on potential delays, the future of GTA Online, and the capabilities of the upcoming PS5 Pro.
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