In a surprising move, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc's TTWO Rockstar Games has announced a formal partnership with the modding team responsible for the immensely popular Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) roleplay servers, FiveM and RedM.
The collaboration entails the integration of Cfx.re, the team behind these prominent roleplay and creator communities, into the Rockstar Games fold.
See Also: Is GTA 6 Nearing? Take-Two's Fiscal Year Projections Trigger 2024 Release Talk
This decision marks a notable departure from Rockstar's previous stance toward modders, particularly those engaged in the creative realm of roleplaying. FiveM, a key host for major GTA roleplay servers, continues to draw a substantial player base eight years after GTA 5's PC launch.
"Over the past few years, we've watched with excitement as Rockstar’s creative community have found new ways to expand the possibilities of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, particularly through the creation of dedicated roleplay servers," Rockstar said in a statement.
And added: "As a way to further support those efforts, we recently expanded our policy on mods to officially include those made by the roleplay creative community."
This development has been met with a mix of surprise and satisfaction among Rockstar's fan base, given the company's historically confrontational interactions with modders. In 2015, Rockstar banned the creators of the FiveM mod, labeling it an “unauthorized alternate multiplayer service that contains code designed to facilitate piracy.”
Despite speculation from enthusiasts, the Cfx.re team, now aligned with Rockstar, has played down the prospect of this partnership implying any concrete plans for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). Their official statement emphasized the collaboration is primarily geared toward enhancing the existing FiveM and RedM platforms.
"Please, do not ask us about the next GTA!," Cfx.re said in its statement.
Rockstar announced GTA 6's active development last year, but specific progress details remain undisclosed. The game is expected to be released between fiscal years 2025 and 2026, commencing in April 2024.
Read Next: Is GTA 6 On Track To Become The Most Expensive Video Game Ever Produced?
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