GTA 6 Map Mod for GTA 5 Removed by Take-Two

The developer who recreated the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5 has stopped all work on the project after receiving a takedown notice from Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company.

The modder known as ‘Dark Space’ had built a free, playable version of the GTA 6 map using leaked coordinate data and official trailer footage, sharing gameplay videos on his YouTube channel. His creations gained attention in January as eager GTA fans turned to the fan interpretation for a glimpse of what GTA 6, due this fall on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, might offer.

Last week, however, Dark Space received a copyright strike from YouTube after Take-Two submitted a takedown request. Receiving multiple copyright strikes may result in a channel's termination.

In response, Dark Space removed all download links to his mod—even before being directly instructed by Take-Two—and posted a video criticizing the company’s decision, suggesting the mod was removed because its depiction of GTA 6's map was "probably a little too accurate."

Speaking with IGN in a follow-up, Dark Space expressed a more philosophical outlook. "Given their history of takedowns, I expected something like this," he said. "I started the project aware this could happen, so I’m not surprised."

He believes Take-Two targeted his mod because it relied on a GTA 6 community mapping initiative that used leaked coordinates to map out the game world "perfectly," potentially spoiling the surprise for future players.

"That's probably the biggest red flag, although my map was primarily based on the trailers," Dark Space added.

"I understand that my map could have spoiled their world reveal. If you invest years designing an immersive game world, only for a YouTuber to reveal its layout, scale, and feel… I’d want it taken down too."

As a result, Dark Space’s GTA 6 mod project has been completely abandoned—not just the videos, but the entire project. "They clearly don’t want this to exist," he explained. "So it’s not just at risk, it’s gone. There’s no sense in continuing something they explicitly prohibit."

"I plan to keep making videos people enjoy. But I’ll likely avoid modding GTA 5 with GTA 6 content moving forward—it feels risky."

There are now concerns that the broader GTA 6 community mapping effort may be Take-Two’s next target. IGN has reached out to the group for comment.

GTA 6 Key Art's Hidden Map..?

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Take-Two has a track record of removing fan-led projects, including recently targeting the YouTube channel for the ‘GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition,’ which adapted the world, cutscenes, and missions from 2002’s Vice City into 2008’s GTA 4.

A former Rockstar developer defended the company’s approach, stating that both Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their commercial interests.

"Take-Two and Rockstar are a commercial entity," tweeted Obbe Vermeij, former technical director at Rockstar Games. "They will take down mods that conflict with their business goals."

"The Vice City NextGen Edition mod for GTA 4 competes directly with the official Definitive Edition. Similarly, a project like the Liberty City preservation effort (GTA 4 in the GTA 5 engine) could impact a potential GTA 4 remaster.

"There’s no use getting upset—this is what companies do. What we can hope is that they permit mods that don’t interfere with their plans, such as the Dreamcast GTA 3 project. From what I’ve seen, they’ve been fairly reasonable lately about allowing such projects to continue."

While waiting for GTA 6, check out IGN’s reporting on an ex-Rockstar developer’s remarks that a decision on whether GTA 6 will be delayed may not happen until May 2025, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick’s response to concerns over GTA Online post-GTA 6, and expert analysis on whether the PS5 Pro will support GTA 6 at 60 frames per second.