Liberty City GTA 5 Mod Shut Down After 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), are known for taking a more aggressive stance.

The modding team, World Travel, announced the cessation of the "Liberty City Preservation Project" 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 dedication to GTA modding, describing it as their passion.

Suspicions of Forced Closure

Although World Travel hasn't explicitly confirmed being forced to shut down, many players suspect this was the case. The phrasing of "speaking to Rockstar Games" suggests a seemingly amicable discussion, but it's likely the team received a warning about potential legal repercussions, such as a DMCA takedown. Independent modders, often lacking legal representation, typically comply with such warnings to avoid costly litigation.

Fan Backlash and Speculation

The shutdown has sparked considerable backlash from fans on social media, criticizing Rockstar and Take-Two's aggressive approach to modding. The frustration is amplified by the absence of Liberty City in the upcoming GTA 6, which currently features Vice City. Some speculate that Take-Two feared the mod might negatively impact GTA 4 sales. However, this argument is contested, as playing the mod still requires owning GTA 5, and GTA 4 is an older title.

Regardless of the reasoning, the Liberty City Preservation Project is no longer available. The modding community hopes future projects from World Travel will fare better, but Take-Two's stance on modding doesn't appear likely to change.