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 taking a more aggressive stance.
The modding team, World Travel, behind the "Liberty City Preservation Project," announced the shutdown on their Discord server. They cited "unexpected attention" and subsequent communication with Rockstar Games as the reason for removing the mod. While the specifics remain undisclosed, the team expressed continued passion for GTA modding.
Another Casualty of Aggressive Mod Policies
Although World Travel hasn't explicitly confirmed coercion, many players suspect the mod's closure resulted from legal pressure. Contact from Rockstar Games likely signaled a potential DMCA takedown or other legal action. Independent modders, often lacking legal representation, frequently succumb to such pressure.
The shutdown has angered many GTA fans, who criticized Rockstar and Take-Two's aggressive anti-modding policies on social media. The frustration is amplified by the absence of Liberty City in the upcoming GTA 6, which currently features Vice City. While Take-Two's concern might stem from potential GTA 4 sales impact, many argue this is illogical, as playing the mod still requires owning GTA 5.
Despite the setback, World Travel intends to continue creating mods for GTA. The future of their projects remains uncertain, given Take-Two's persistent approach to modding.
