Popular GTA 5 Mod Dev Doubts If The Takedown Request By Rockstar Is Genuine

The Liberty City Preservation Project was a popular Grand Theft Auto 5 mod that recreates GTA 4’s iconic Liberty City. It was hard work from Team World Travel, who decided to offer the project for free to the community. However, soon after it was released after a few years of development, the team had to take it down due to a request from the copyright owner and developer of the game, Rockstar. 

But this doesn’t mean the end of the story; it turns out to be the beginning of a wild drama. Recently, a website, which presents a lengthy essay themed “The Fall Of FiveM,” appeared online and caused a whirling discussion. “Behind the friendly, smiling, snail mascot of FiveM – you’ll find many dark secrets,” it reads. 

Among the many who were shocked by what’s written in the essay is nkjellman, the lead developer of World Travel. They wrote a long message in a now-gone Discord Channel about the situation. 

It’s said that initial communications with a representative from Rockstar Games were professional. As per the request of the representative, the team removed the mod links due to legal concerns. 

However, after two meetings between the mod team and Rockstar and several emails discussing their future collaboration, Rockstar’s representative became “unresponsive.” Not long after, the team spotted some paid Liberty City mods appeared, some of which might cost 500 euros. One mod even has detailed GTA 4 assets like props, custom scenarios, animated signs, etc.; that’s unusual because these mods “have always replaced the props with GTA V props.” 

This is a “strange coincidence,” thought nkjellman, who forwarded the link of the project to the representative. It’s claimed that it’s been forwarded to the enforcement team at Rockstar, but nkjellman is now not sure if this truly happened. 

With all these happening, nkjellman said they would not be surprised “if someone is getting a slice of the pie.” As for Team World Travel, they’re now unsure if the takedown request is genuine. 

Things seem to be becoming a bit ridiculous now, considering a key fact brought up by the essay: someone from inside the FiveM team contributed to the project’s takedown. The discussion continues as Rockstar has not yet provided a statement about the situation.