Weeks before GTA 6, Rockstar Games has tightened its rules for player-made mods. The studio just updated its guidelines, and they are a lot tighter than before.
The New Guidelines
Rockstar Games says its games are its own. The studio reminds players that Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption belong to it, and that “to maintain a fun, creative, and welcoming place for players and content creators, we encourage everyone to keep the following in mind.”
The first rule is simple: “respect our games.” That means modders can no longer “expand or modify Rockstar Games’ official storylines, plots, missions, characters, or other elements of our established continuity.” They also cannot mix maps, assets, or characters across Rockstar’s own games. Arthur Morgan showing up in Vice City is probably a no-go.
What Is Forbidden
The rules also ban third-party content from showing up in GTA or Red Dead mods. The studio says players should “not use protected elements of anyone else’s intellectual property in your mod, including art, characters, music, photos, games, advertisements, brands or logos, real-world locations, etc.” That list is wide enough to cover almost anything.
The tradition of a modded Shrek showing up in nearly every game has been a long one. These new rules may end that tradition.
Modding On Screen
Multiplayer modding is limited to Rockstar’s own licensed Creator Platform. “Do not modify our games to operate on consoles, hardware devices, or other platforms where they have not been officially released by Rockstar Games.” That is a real restriction, not just a warning.
Mods also cannot be monetised unless permitted via Rockstar’s official Creator Platform. Rockstar will not “tolerate abuse, bullying, threats, or harassment of any kind.”
Reasonable Points
Some of the rules are pretty reasonable. The harassment point is fair. But the line is strict.
The GTA 6 Question
The new rules arrive in the weeks before GTA 6. They will likely shape what mods players get for the new game when it finally arrives on PC.
The full list draws a pretty strict line in the sand, and I can’t imagine we’ll see nearly the same amount of zany mods for GTA 6 as we have for GTA 5.
The Rival Server
Elsewhere, Twitch’s CEO recently let slip that GTA 6 Online might launch next year instead. Rockstar also announced its own GTA Online RP server a few weeks ago, years after trying to bury (and then acquiring) the modding team behind it.
A Line In The Sand
These guidelines feel like Rockstar is perhaps holding too tight a leash. But the line is drawn, and modders will have to cross it carefully.
Key Facts
- Games: GTA, Red Dead Redemption
- Platform: PC
- Third-party IP: Banned
- Creator Platform: Required for monetisation
- Online launch: GTA 6 Online may come next year
The rules are clear, and Rockstar is serious about them. Modders will have to decide how much they are willing to bend before the next GTA hits PC.
Source material: “Weeks before GTA 6, Rockstar Games imposes new guidelines that restrict mods for missions, maps, updated storylines, and third-party IP,” Eurogamer.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.