From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action


So, even before GTA6 releases, Rockstar Games (and Take Two) are
already putting their foot down with regards to user-mods for the
game.* They have posted new 'modding guidelines' which forbid modders
from following up on the main game's storyline, or porting the game to
other platforms, or adding older game material to the new engine.

{Quoting from the guidelines:
[ * Do not expand or modify Rockstar Games' official
[ storylines, plots, missions, characters, or other
[ elements of our established continuity.
[ * Do not make mods that combine maps, locations,
[ characters, storylines, in-game assets, or other IP
[ from one Rockstar Games title into another title.
[ * Multiplayer modding is limited to Rockstar Games�
[ official licensed Creator Platform or else as otherwise
[ licensed directly by Rockstar Games.
[ * Do not modify our games to operate on consoles,
[ hardware devices, or other platforms where they have
[ not been officially released by Rockstar Games.
}

Whether Rockstar actually has the right to do this is /very/
debatable, but it's understandable why the company might try. All
these things might potentially conflict with Rockstar's own
enterprises. For instance, when the official remastered versions of
GTA3/VC/SA were released, they compared very poorly to the fan-made
remasters, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of GTA3 fans skipped
out on the official version just because the fan-mods were so much
better. That's money out of Rockstar's pockets!

Similarly, fan-games which extend the storylines of characters are
doubly risky. Not only does it get in the way of future profits, but
it's quite possible that any ideas created by modders might be
something Rockstar intended for future DLC (this is a real problem,
and why a lot of publishers don't accept ideas for their own franchise
from fans; it opens up a legal quagmire it's just better to avoid
entirely).

The thing is, Rockstar probably doesn't have a legal leg to stand on.
While publishers aren't completely powerless against it, fan fiction
is a form of protected derivative art and there are quite a few legal
loopholes that fans can wriggle through if pressed (although most
don't even try, because it's just to expensive to fight a legal battle
against a multi-billion dollar corporation). Still, most publishers
don't try so hard to fight their own most-loyal and fervent fans the
way Rockstar seems to be doing.

Especially before the game has even been released.







* story here https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ahead-of-gta-6-rockstar-warn-modders-against-against-making-unofficial-main-story-expansions-unauthorised-ports-and-mods-that-combine-gta-maps


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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

Yeah, yeah, we know-you hate everything you perceive as being
wrong with pc gaming. Anyway, spread my butt cheeks and
sniff & lick my asshole. (Its very stinky)
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

[ * Do not make mods that combine maps, locations,
[ characters, storylines, in-game assets, or other IP
[ from one Rockstar Games title into another title.

that one in particular irks me. Why should they care, if I own both
titles in question?

rms

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

rms <[email protected]> wrote at 19:59 this Monday (GMT):

[ * Do not make mods that combine maps, locations,
[ characters, storylines, in-game assets, or other IP
[ from one Rockstar Games title into another title.

that one in particular irks me. Why should they care, if I own both titles in question?

rms

because rockstar could make MONEY off of offering it as a dlc?
--
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action

On Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:32:20 -0000 (UTC), candycanearter07 <[email protected]> said this thing:

rms <[email protected]> wrote at 19:59 this Monday (GMT):

[ * Do not make mods that combine maps, locations,
[ characters, storylines, in-game assets, or other IP
[ from one Rockstar Games title into another title.

that one in particular irks me. Why should they care, if I own both
titles in question?

rms

because rockstar could make MONEY off of offering it as a dlc?

It's very much a money and control issue.

Modders have ported the GTA games to other hardware platforms.
Modders have combined GTA3/VC/SA into one single map.
Modders have ported GTA3/VC/SA to the GTA4 and GTA5 engines.
Modders have added features to GTA4/GTA5 that allow players more
freedom in how they play the game (spawning cars, etc.)

They don't want the same thing happening with GTA6.

It keeps the old games alive when they'd rather you buy the new one.
It stands in the way of DLC expansions (both in terms of sales and
confusing the IP). It potentially can get in the way of post-sale monetizations; why buy new cars models from Rockstar when fans are
giving it away for free? They especially don't want modders taking the
GTA6 datafiles and porting it to PC /before/ the official PC version
is released.

There are some legitimate reasons. For instance, the modding
guidelines specifically call out making cheats that work in
multiplayer; I think most of us think that's okay. Obviously, modders
selling their wares is generally frowned upon; you're making cash off
of Rockstar's work (at least in part) and not recompensing them. Don't
violate copyright by sharing GTA6 datafiles (textures, models,
scripts, etc); also reasonable.

But Rockstar's demands are overly broad. Unfortunately, because of
changes in how games are sold, they've added protection. Because
nowadays --thanks to digital-only sales/downloads-- you can't get
access to a game without agreeing to their license first. Which means
that by downloading the game, you agree to the restrictions in the
modding guidelines. This gives Rockstar a bit more legal cover for
their demands.

I wish I could say this move would blow up in their face; that fans
would be so upset that --even if it didn't majorly effect day-one
sales-- it did make the game's longevity less than that of GTA5.
Unfortunately, history shows that gamers have no backbone. So I fully
expect that not only will GTA6 sell like gangbusters --and continue to
do so for over a decade-- but that other companies will soon follow
suit.


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