Rockstar Games has published modding guidelines that prohibit mods expanding its official storylines, combining assets from different Rockstar titles, or porting its games to platforms where they were never released. Rock Paper Shotgun reported that the rules were posted on September 10 and drew wider attention over the weekend after users on ResetEra and social media circulated them, less than two months before Grand Theft Auto VI launches on consoles on November 19.
The guidelines cover all of Rockstar's games, including the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series. They are split into four sections: intellectual property, community conduct, monetization, and what the company calls respecting its games.
What the rules prohibit
- Expanding or modifying Rockstar's official storylines, plots, missions, characters or established continuity
- Combining maps, locations, characters, storylines or in-game assets from one Rockstar title into another
- Multiplayer modding outside Rockstar's official licensed Creator Platform or other direct Rockstar licenses
- Modifying games to run on consoles, devices or platforms where Rockstar has not released them
- Using other parties' protected IP, including art, characters, music, brands, logos and real-world locations
In the guidelines, Rockstar said its games form an official continuity and that, like all creators, it has the right to set limits on how others use its games and brand.
On monetization, mods may only be sold through Rockstar's official Creator Platform or digital storefronts the company has approved, according to Eurogamer and Rock Paper Shotgun. Rock Paper Shotgun reported that mods are barred from real-money gambling, loot boxes, gacha and similar chance mechanics. IGN reported that the policy also prohibits exchanging real money inside mods, whether in cryptocurrency or traditional currency, and bars mod owners from promoting third-party sponsored content. IGN noted that the rules would block the real-money GTA 6 roleplay server that streamer Adin Ross has described building, unless Rockstar approves it.
Other prohibited content listed in the guidelines includes cheat menus that interfere with Rockstar's official multiplayer, online services or Creator Platform, and conflict roleplay or military simulations depicting real-world armed organizations, Rock Paper Shotgun reported.
Rock Paper Shotgun also noted that past takedowns, including the Liberty City Preservation Project, a re-creation of GTA 4's city inside GTA 5, would fall under the rule against combining maps. Rockstar previously acquired Cfx.re, the team behind the FiveM and RedM multiplayer mods. GTA 6 does not yet have a PC release date.
