from the mod-warfare dept
Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, have been telling us who they are for years. And who they are, for our purposes, amounts to a game developer that both absolutely hates any leaked information about its games and one that has been perfectly willing to go to war with its own modding community. After suffering an intrusion by bad actors in 2022, a bunch of information and footage from the in-development Grand Theft Auto 6 leaked onto the internet. That leak has been bookended by Rockstar and Take-Two engaging in all kinds of DMCA takedowns for game mods and even saved game files for Grand Theft Auto titles and other franchises.
What do these two topics have in common? Well, they came together recently when Take-Two issued a takedown notice on YouTube videos in which one modder shows off his custom map that seeks to input as much of the map for GTA6 that could be derived from the leaks into GTA5.
Modder ‘Dark Space’ had created a free-to-download GTA 5 map using leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots of GTA 6. He also uploaded gameplay footage of the mod to his YouTube channel. In January, the mod gained widespread attention as GTA fans, eager for a glimpse of the upcoming game, explored this fan-made recreation ahead of GTA 6’s official launch.
However, Dark Space confirmed that he recently received a take down notice from YouTube.
We, and Dark Space, can but speculate as to the motivation behind the takedown. Perhaps Take-Two considers the details in the map to be spoilers of sorts, though it would seem the widely available leaked information about the forthcoming game and the trailers did the spoiling first. Perhaps it considers the map construction to be proprietary information, covered by copyright, and acted upon it. Or perhaps it’s simply a matter of lawyers lawyering.
But what isn’t up for debate is that the modding community continues to feel slighted by the company, while any sane understanding of the effects of these mods is one that is beneficial to Take-Two.
He also criticised Take-Two’s handling of modders, stating, “When will these companies learn to stop attacking their own feet? It’s thanks to the community of players and modders that these companies can stand.”
He claimed that the company has a history of hiring private investigators and taking legal action against them, rather than supporting their work. He pointed to past instances where Take-Two had sent private investigators to modders’ homes, filed lawsuits, and banned creators from making GTA-related content.
As an example, he cited the original GTA Trilogy on PC, where mods were essential for fixing game-breaking bugs and making the titles playable. He argued that instead of appreciating these contributions, Take-Two cracked down on modders instead of acknowledging their efforts.
It should go without saying that importing the game map, as best as can be recreated by a modder, into an older game does not replace the new game. In fact, the attention this mod and those like it have received are a symptom of the thirst the public has for the new game. The company could have used all of this as a free marketing tool for GTA6, if it wanted to. It’s not even that hard.
“Folks, go look at the map if you want. We know you’re hungry to play this game and we’re equally hungry for you to do so. This doesn’t reflect the entirety of the new map, the new game, or the experience you’ll have playing it, but whet your appetites because GTA6 is going to be great.”
It would have been that easy. But instead, the company has decided to once more slight the modding community that helps drive ongoing interest in Take-Two’s new and existing titles. Attacking, as Dark Space put it, their own feet.
Filed Under: copyright, dmca, gta, gta 5, gta 6, mods, video games
Companies: rockstar games, take 2 interactive
