Take-Two Removes GTA 6 Map Mod From GTA 5 - News

The creator behind a playable Grand Theft Auto 6 map recreation in GTA 5 has halted all development following a takedown notice from Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive.

Known as 'Dark Space', the modder had built a free downloadable GTA 5 map based on leaked coordinate data and official GTA 6 trailer footage, sharing gameplay videos on YouTube. The project gained significant attention in January as eager fans sought early glimpses of what to expect from the official release coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S this fall.

Last week, Dark Space received a copyright strike from YouTube after Take-Two filed a removal request. With multiple strikes potentially leading to channel termination, the modder preemptively removed all download links—despite no direct request from Take-Two—and posted a response video criticizing the company's actions, suggesting the mod may have been "a little too accurate."

Modder Responds to Takedown

In an interview with IGN, Dark Space remained pragmatic about the situation: "I anticipated this outcome based on their history of takedowns. I understood the risks when starting this project."

The modder speculated that Take-Two targeted the project because it utilized community-mapped GTA 6 coordinates that could potentially spoil the game's geographic surprises. "While most of my work derived from trailer footage, the coordinate mapping might have revealed too much about the actual game world," Dark Space explained. "If I were in their position, I'd want to protect that reveal too."

The decision marks the complete end of Dark Space's GTA 6 modding efforts. "When a company makes its position this clear, continuing would be pointless," the modder stated. "I'll focus on creating other content instead—likely steering clear of GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 given the legal risks."

This development raises concerns about the future of community mapping projects for GTA 6. IGN has reached out to mapping groups for comment.

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Take-Two's Enforcement History

Take-Two has consistently protected its intellectual property, recently targeting the YouTube channel of 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' creators who ported the 2002 game's content into GTA 4's engine.

Former Rockstar technical director Obbe Vermeij defended the company's approach: "Take-Two and Rockstar must protect their commercial interests. Mods like Vice City Nextgen directly compete with official releases like the Definitive Edition. While disappointing for fans, this is standard corporate practice."