Summary

• A GTA 5 mod featuring Liberty City was shut down after "speaking to Rockstar Games."
• Many players suspect that the modders were forced to discontinue the project.
• Despite setbacks, the modding team remains passionate and aims to continue modding for the game.

An incredible Grand Theft Auto 5 mod that allowed players to revisit Liberty City has been shut down, marking a disappointing end to a project that garnered significant attention in 2024.

While some game developers like Bethesda embrace community modding, others such as Nintendo and Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, frequently clamp down on such efforts. Despite facing legal challenges from publishers, modders persist, driven by their passion for enhancing games. The team behind this mod, though disheartened, remains committed to continuing their work on GTA.

The modding group World Travel, responsible for the Liberty City Preservation Project, announced the mod's discontinuation via their Discord channel. They cited "unexpected attention" and a subsequent discussion with Rockstar Games as reasons for pulling the mod. While the team did not delve into specifics about their conversation with Rockstar, they reaffirmed their dedication to modding, describing it as their "passion."

Another GTA Mod Bites the Dust

Although World Travel did not explicitly state they were forced to stop, many in the gaming community suspect that the team was pressured into discontinuing the mod. The phrase "speaking to Rockstar Games" suggests a dialogue, but it is widely believed that this was a warning about potential legal action, such as a DMCA takedown. Given that most mod projects are run by volunteers without legal support, such warnings often lead to swift project closures.

The reaction from fans has been one of frustration and disappointment. Social media platforms have seen an outpouring of criticism directed at Rockstar and Take-Two for their stringent stance against mods. Some speculate that the company's decision may be linked to protecting sales of GTA 4, although this argument is contentious given the age of the game and the fact that playing the mod still requires owning GTA 5. Regardless of the rationale behind the publisher's actions, the Liberty City Preservation Project is no longer available. Fans can only hope that future projects from World Travel fare better, though Take-Two's approach to modding appears unlikely to change in the near future.