GTA players recently noticed that gaming modifications were deleted from the platform, leading them to speculate on why this could be happening.
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Game’s parent company, has spent the past few weeks using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to remove old Grand Theft Auto (GTA) modifications. On Saturday, 17 July 2021, it became clear that something was going on, as one gamer, known as Ash_735, started a thread on the official GTA forums, stating that Take-Two is deleting modifications. The Vice City and the San Andreas modifications were deleted and are no longer available on ModDB.
GTA is a series of action-adventure games which focus on an open world where the player can complete missions to progress an overall story, as well as engage in various side activities. Most of the game play centers on driving and shooting, with occasional stealth and role-playing elements. The series focuses on different protagonists who attempt to rise through the ranks of the criminal underworld, however, their motives for doing so differ in each title.
Gamers have developed mods for the GTA series, which can be described as an alteration of one or more aspects of the game, such as how it looks or behaves. However, players were disappointed to discover that their favourite mods have been deleted from the game, by GTA’s parent company, Take-Two.
On the official GTA forums, Ash_735 stated, “Just to make sure as many people here know as possible, Take-Two have been going heavy with the DMCAs this week, first starting with GTAV map mods like GTA3 Portland, and Vice City Overhaul.”
The gamer continued to explain that an agreement to help the publisher and the mod developers peacefully coexist was made in the past, as Take-Two tried to make mods in the GTA games illegal. The original agreement was drafted in 2017, and can be summarized as, “Do not port maps, vehicles, or content from older GTA games, or other video game series to rage.”
However, Ash alleges that the agreement was updated without informing the community. Multiple features and words were allegedly changed to add in a disclaimer that Take-Two can override any of the modifications. A new rule was also allegedly added, which states that mod developers cannot create new content anymore.
The publisher has not explained why it has started to remove old mods. However, gamers speculate that its either something to do with the series’ highly anticipated next update, or perhaps a remaster or remake project that will see older GTA games released on current generation systems.
