GTA 5 Liberty City Mod Shut Down

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 considerable popularity in 2024. While some game developers embrace modding, others, like Rockstar Games' parent company Take-Two Interactive, are known for taking a more restrictive approach.

The modding team, 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 emphasized their continued passion for GTA modding.

Speculation and Fan Reaction

Although World Travel avoided explicitly stating coercion, many players suspect the mod's closure resulted from legal pressure. Contact from Rockstar Games often precedes legal action such as DMCA takedowns, particularly for volunteer modders lacking legal representation. This typically leads to rapid project termination.

The modding community's reaction has been largely negative, with many criticizing Rockstar and Take-Two for their aggressive stance on modding. This criticism is amplified by the absence of any announced Liberty City return in GTA 6, which currently focuses on Vice City. Concerns about potential GTA 4 sales impact are dismissed by many, as playing the mod still requires owning GTA 5.

Despite the setback, World Travel's dedication to GTA modding remains unwavering. The future of their projects remains uncertain, however, given Take-Two's persistent approach to modding activity. The hope remains that future endeavors will meet with greater success.