The modder known as 'Dark Space,' who had created a playable recreation of the Grand Theft Auto 6 map within Grand Theft Auto 5, has halted all work on the project following a takedown notice from Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games.

Dark Space's mod was based on leaked coordinate data and official trailer shots from GTA 6, offering fans a chance to explore a fan-made version of the anticipated game. The project garnered significant attention, especially after gameplay footage was shared on his YouTube channel in January, amid eager anticipation for GTA 6's official release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S later this year.

However, the project's visibility led to its downfall when Take-Two issued a copyright removal request, resulting in a strike against Dark Space's YouTube channel. Faced with the potential risk of channel termination due to multiple strikes, Dark Space preemptively removed all download links to his mod and addressed the situation in a response video. He suggested that the accuracy of his map recreation might have been too close to the real thing, prompting Take-Two's action.

In a subsequent interview with IGN, Dark Space expressed a resigned acceptance of the situation, noting that he had anticipated such a response from Take-Two based on their history of takedowns. He acknowledged that his mod, built partly on an online community mapping project, might have spoiled the surprise of GTA 6's map for players.

As a result, Dark Space has decided to abandon the project entirely, recognizing Take-Two's clear stance against its existence. He plans to focus on creating other content that his audience might enjoy, steering clear of further GTA 5 mods related to GTA 6 due to the perceived risks.

The incident has raised concerns about the future of the GTA 6 community mapping project, which could be the next target for Take-Two's legal actions. IGN has reached out to the group for their response.

Take-Two's history of targeting fan projects includes the recent takedown of the 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition' YouTube channel, which had been working on porting the 2002 game into the 2008 GTA 4 engine. A former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, defended these actions, stating that Take-Two and Rockstar are protecting their commercial interests by removing mods that could compete with their official releases.

As the gaming community awaits the official launch of GTA 6, IGN continues to provide in-depth coverage, including insights from former Rockstar developers on potential delays, the future of GTA Online, and the capabilities of the PS5 Pro in running the new game.

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