Creators GTA V Multiplayer Mods: Take-Two Sent Private Investigators – Update

The creator of the FiveM multiplayer mod for Grand Theft Auto V claims that publisher Take-Two sent two private detectives to his house to persuade him to stop working on the mod.

FiveM developer ntauthy is reporting the incident on Reddit. He states that two private detectives came to his door and handed him a phone with a Take-Two employee on the other end of the line. He is said to have stated that he “wanted to discuss how the mod maker was going to end its activities with regard to the multiplayer mod” and that he “did not want to get the lawyers involved at this time”. Furthermore, the Take-Two employee was unwilling to accept any other outcome other than the mod maker’s resignation and was “confident that Take-Two can be proven right in a lawsuit.”

In August of this year, developer Rockstar suspended all the Rockstar Games Social Club accounts of the FiveM mod makers. The studio’s argument was that the code in the mod would facilitate software piracy. Rockstar Games has previously stated that it will allow mods, but only in the game’s single player mode. Multiplayer mods like this are developed to create a separate online environment in which players can use mods. It’s not clear at this point if the team behind the FiveM mod will actually put the work down.

At the same time, another mod, GTA: Multiplayer, has been shut down. The makers claim on their website that Take-Two contacted them and asked them to stop development and distribution. They state that Take-Two sees the mod as a competitor to the official Grand Theft Auto Online. Somewhat strikingly, the team says it has been in contact with Rockstar in the past and has even received feedback from the studio. “But you have to remember that Take-Two is the publisher and Rockstar is just the developer,” they explain.

Update, 15:34: The makers of GTA: Multiplayer now claim on their website that members of their development team have been visited by private investigators. Take-Two has not yet responded to the messages.