The GTA 5 Liberty City Preservation Project (LCPP) was launched recently after six years of dedicated work, successfully recreating the iconic Liberty City from GTA 4 within the GTA 5 environment. This ambitious project showcased Rockstar’s distinct version of New York with enhanced graphics and provided compatibility for the Steam Deck.
However, success was short-lived. After gaining traction and media attention, Rockstar Games took notice and decided to intervene. Historically, Take-Two, Rockstar’s parent company, has been known to crack down on mods that encroach too closely on their intellectual property, especially as anticipation builds for GTA 6.
The development team of LCPP has since removed the mod from circulation, with a message posted on their Discord: “Due to the unexpected attention that our project received and after speaking with Rockstar Games, we have decided to take down the Liberty City Preservation project. We appreciate all the support that the project has received, and we look forward to continuing to pursue our passion for modding the Grand Theft Auto series.”
Translation: Due to the unforeseen popularity and following discussions with Rockstar Games, we chose to discontinue the Liberty City project. We value all the support and look forward to our continued passion for Grand Theft Auto modding.
Reactions to this news have been mixed, with many players expressing their disappointment at Rockstar’s decision, perceiving it as a rejection of community-driven creativity. Some have even referred to the company as “L-Star,” expressing their frustration over the closure of another fan project that was freeware.
In a subsequent message, NK Jellman clarified: “This isn’t a DMCA, rather a friendly takedown, mutually agreed upon by all parties involved. There is no negativity between us and Rockstar Games / Take-Two Interactive.”
Translation: This is not a formal takedown, but rather a friendly agreement among all involved. There are no hard feelings towards Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.
Even though the Discord channel remains active, they advise against downloading the mod from unofficial sources to avoid malware threats.
This incident adds to a long history of Rockstar dealing with mods, particularly as it gears up for the anticipated release of GTA 6 this year.
