The modder known as 'Dark Space' has abruptly ended his project that recreated the Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) map within Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) following a copyright takedown from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games. Dark Space had utilized leaked coordinate data and official trailer footage to construct a free-to-download mod, which garnered significant attention from eager GTA fans in January, eager for any glimpse of the forthcoming title set to release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S this fall.

The situation escalated when Take-Two issued a copyright removal request, resulting in YouTube striking Dark Space's channel. This prompted the modder to not only remove all download links to the mod preemptively but also to voice his frustrations in a video response, hinting that the accuracy of his map recreation might have been the trigger for Take-Two's actions.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a more resigned stance, acknowledging the inevitability of such a response from Take-Two given their history of similar actions against fan projects. He speculated that his mod, drawing heavily from a community mapping project, might have spoiled the surprise of GTA 6's map, a concern he empathized with, given the years of work invested by Rockstar in crafting the game's world.

Dark Space has now abandoned the project entirely, citing Take-Two's clear opposition to its existence. He plans to shift focus to other content, wary of engaging in further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the potential risks involved.

There is now apprehension within the GTA community about whether the GTA 6 community mapping project could face similar repercussions from Take-Two. IGN has reached out for comments on this matter.

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4 ImagesTake-Two's aggressive stance against fan-made content isn't new, as seen in their recent takedown of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' YouTube channel, which attempted to modernize the 2002 game using the 2008 GTA 4 engine.

A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended these actions on social media, emphasizing that Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their business interests. He pointed out that mods like the 'VC NextGen Edition' could compete with official releases such as the 'Definitive Edition', while other projects might interfere with potential future remasters.

While the gaming community awaits the official release of GTA 6, IGN provides ongoing coverage, including insights from former Rockstar developers on potential release delays, statements from Take-Two executives on the future of GTA Online, and expert analyses on the technical capabilities of the PS5 Pro in relation to GTA 6's performance.