GTA 5 Mod Shutdown: Beloved Liberty City Project Canceled

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 considerable excitement surrounding the mod's 2024 release.

While some game developers embrace modding, others, like Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar Games' parent company), take a more restrictive approach. This isn't uncommon; many gamers are familiar with Nintendo and Take-Two's history of shutting down mods. Despite this, the modding community perseveres. The developers behind the "Liberty City Preservation Project," known as World Travel, announced the cessation of the mod on their Discord server. They cited "unexpected attention" and subsequent discussions with Rockstar Games as the reason for its removal. While specifics remain undisclosed, World Travel affirmed their ongoing passion for GTA modding.

Another Modding Project Halted

While World Travel hasn't explicitly confirmed coercion, many players suspect the mod's closure stemmed from legal pressure. The phrasing suggests a seemingly amicable conversation, but it's likely Rockstar Games issued a warning about potential legal action, such as a DMCA takedown. Given that most modders are volunteers lacking legal representation, such contact often results in project termination.

The community's reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with many criticizing Rockstar and Take-Two's aggressive stance towards modding. This is particularly frustrating given the absence of a Liberty City return in the upcoming GTA 6, which currently focuses on Vice City. Concerns about impacting GTA 4 sales are unlikely to hold water, as GTA 4 is an older title, and the mod still required ownership of GTA 5. Regardless of the reasoning, the mod is unavailable. One can only hope future projects from World Travel fare better, though Take-Two's approach to modding doesn't appear poised for change.