Rockstar’s Latest Mod Shutdown May Hint at Liberty City in GTA 6
Fans have begun wondering if the shutdown of the Liberty City Preservation Project means Liberty City is coming to GTA 6.
It's been a sad week for Grand Theft Auto fans after the Liberty City Preservation Project, a mod that brought GTA IV's New York-inspired metropolis into GTA V, was taken offline just weeks after its release.
The mod, which was launched late last year, allowed players to travel from Los Santos to a fully functional Liberty City complete with dynamic weather, improved lighting, and enhanced textures.
The shutdown came on Wednesday of this week, following discussions between the mod's creators, the World Travel modding team, and Rockstar Games. Unlike typical copyright takedowns, this removal appeared to stem from a mutual agreement between both parties.
As mod team member nkjellman explained on Discord, the decision came after "friendly" conversations with Rockstar, which implies all parties came to an amicable resolution.
"Due to the unexpected attention our project received and after speaking with Rockstar Games, we have decided to take down the Liberty City Preservation Project," the team stated.
As expected, the timing and nature of the takedown has incited speculation within the GTA community. Some fans and observers, including game reviewer Synth Potato, suggest the removal might indicate official plans for Liberty City's return.
Current theories range from potential collaboration between Rockstar and modders to the possibility of Liberty City appearing in future GTA 6 content.
Given previous leaks that insinuated Rockstar had plans to expand GTA 6 over time by adding new regions, the Liberty City theories have been gaining traction in the community. With GTA 6 already confirmed to be set in Vice City, some fans seem convinced that Liberty City could be part of future expansion plans, especially for the online component of GTA 6.
It's not such a stretch to make this assumption considering Rockstar has previously hired FiveM developers and showed its willingness to work with the modding community. In reality, though, the takedown could simply be related to copyright concerns regarding the mod's use of licensed music and other GTA IV assets.
