The modder known as 'Dark Space,' who released a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, has ceased all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two, the owners of Rockstar Games. Dark Space had crafted a free-to-download mod based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots of GTA 6, sharing gameplay footage on his YouTube channel. The mod and its associated videos gained significant attention in January, drawing in GTA fans eager for a glimpse of what to expect when GTA 6 launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.

However, last week, Dark Space received a copyright strike on YouTube after Take-Two issued a removal request. Multiple copyright strikes can lead to the termination of a YouTube channel, prompting Dark Space to remove all download links to his mod preemptively, even though Take-Two had not directly requested this action. In a response video on his channel, Dark Space criticized Take-Two's move, suggesting the accuracy of his mod to the anticipated GTA 6 map may have been a contributing factor.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a more philosophical stance, noting that he anticipated such a response based on Take-Two's history of takedowns. He speculated that the mod's reliance on an online GTA 6 community mapping project, which accurately maps out the game's world using leaked coordinates, might have alarmed Take-Two by potentially spoiling the surprise of the game's map for players.

Dark Space acknowledged the rationale behind Take-Two's actions, understanding that spoiling a meticulously crafted game world could be detrimental to the game's launch excitement. Consequently, he has decided to abandon the project entirely, stating, "Well they clearly do not want this project to exist... There’s no point putting more time into something that goes directly against what they’re willing to allow." He plans to focus on creating other content that his audience enjoys and will steer clear of further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6, citing the risks involved.

Concerns now arise about the potential targeting of the GTA 6 community mapping project by Take-Two. IGN has reached out to the group for their response.

GTA 6 Key Art's Hidden Map..?

4 ImagesTake-Two's actions are consistent with their past behavior, as seen when they took down the YouTube channel of the creators behind the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,' which ported the world, cutscenes, and missions from the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended Take-Two's and Rockstar's stance on Twitter, explaining that as a commercial entity, they must protect their business interests. He pointed out that mods like the 'VC NextGen Edition' and the 'Liberty City preservation project' could compete with official releases such as the Definitive Edition and a potential GTA 4 remaster. Vermeij advocated for the allowance of mods that do not interfere with business interests, citing the example of 'DCA3' (GTA3 for Dreamcast), which has been permitted to continue.

While awaiting the release of GTA 6, fans can explore IGN's coverage on various related topics, including an ex-Rockstar developer's insights on potential delays, Take-Two's CEO Strauss Zelnick's comments on the future of GTA Online post-GTA 6, and expert opinions on whether the PS5 Pro can run GTA 6 at 60 frames per second.