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 after the modding team, World Travel, engaged with Rockstar Games. The mod, launched to considerable fanfare in 2024, allowed players to revisit the beloved location.

While some game developers embrace modding, others, like Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar Games' parent company), take a more restrictive approach. This isn't unusual; Nintendo and Take-Two have a history of taking action against mods. Despite this, World Travel, in a Discord announcement, stated the mod was shut down following "unexpected attention" and discussions with Rockstar. They offered no specifics about the nature of the discussions but confirmed their continued passion for GTA modding.

Speculation and Fan Reaction

While World Travel avoided explicitly stating they were forced to cease development, many players suspect legal pressure prompted the closure. The phrasing suggests a seemingly amicable conversation, but the likelihood of a warning regarding potential legal action, such as a DMCA takedown, is high. Independent modders, often lacking legal representation, typically comply with such warnings to avoid costly litigation.

The community's response has been largely negative, with many criticizing Rockstar and Take-Two's aggressive stance on modding. This is particularly frustrating given the absence of Liberty City in the upcoming GTA 6, which currently focuses on Vice City. While Take-Two's concern might stem from potential GTA 4 sales impact, this argument is widely contested. Playing the Liberty City mod still requires owning GTA 5, making it unlikely to significantly affect GTA 4 sales.

Regardless of the reasoning, the Liberty City Preservation Project is no longer available. The modding community hopes World Travel's future projects will fare better, but Take-Two's approach to modding appears unlikely to change in the near future.