Known as the most ambitious GTA 5 mod to date, the Liberty City Preservation Project has been officially terminated by Rockstar. The project aimed to bring the iconic city of GTA IV into the series’ latest installment, but its journey ended just two weeks after it was unveiled.
Game mods are not always actively targeted by developers. Many creators see community-generated content as a sign of a game’s success, believing that players wouldn’t create mods unless the game was popular. However, Rockstar Games has a history of opposing mods in certain situations. This time, their focus landed on the Liberty City Preservation Project, a highly anticipated mod designed to recreate the city of GTA IV within GTA V.
According to a report by Eurogamer UK, Rockstar requested the mod’s termination after discussions with the developers, citing unauthorized use of intellectual property. This is a classic example of a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown, which has affected other mod projects in the past. The news has disappointed fans who viewed the mod as a groundbreaking attempt to breathe new life into Rockstar’s enduring title.
Theories Surrounding Rockstar’s Decision
The closure has left fans disheartened and reignited debates about Rockstar’s approach to the modding community. While many PC players have enhanced Rockstar’s games with visual upgrades and additional content, this decision reflects the company’s restrictive stance on mods that go beyond standard tweaks. The Liberty City Preservation Project was not just about recreating the map; it also planned to integrate NPCs, vehicles, and even a functional subway system, setting a new standard for ambitious modding.
In the wake of this decision, some players speculate that Rockstar may have acted to maintain control over player engagement, particularly as the community awaited the arrival of GTA VI. Others suggest that the move could be tied to a potential remaster of GTA IV, similar to the recent re-release of Red Dead Redemption. If true, shutting down the mod could be a way to avoid competition with or overshadowing of an official remastered version.
Despite the setback, the mod’s creators expressed gratitude to the community for their support. “We hope to continue our passion for modding the Grand Theft Auto series as much as we can,” said nkjellman, one of the project leads. Thus, the ambitious endeavor to bring GTA IV into GTA V has officially come to an end, only weeks after gaining traction.
Source: 3djuegos
