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 Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar Games' parent company), frequently take action against fan-made projects. Despite this, the modding team, World Travel, remains dedicated to GTA modding.

World Travel announced the cessation of the "Liberty City Preservation Project" on their Discord server. They cited "unexpected attention" and subsequent discussions with Rockstar Games as the reason for the shutdown. 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 pressure from Rockstar Games. The phrasing suggests a seemingly amicable conversation, but it's likely the team faced the threat of legal action, such as a DMCA takedown. Given the volunteer nature of most modding teams and their lack of legal representation, such threats often lead to project termination.

The community's reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with many criticizing Rockstar and Take-Two for their aggressive stance on modding. This is particularly frustrating given the absence of Liberty City in the announced GTA 6 setting (which currently features Vice City). While Take-Two's concern might stem from potential GTA 4 sales impact, many argue this logic is flawed, as playing the mod still requires owning GTA 5. Regardless of the reasoning, the mod is inaccessible, leaving fans disappointed. The future of World Travel's modding endeavors remains uncertain, but their passion persists, even in the face of Take-Two's seemingly unwavering anti-modding policies.