Rockstar Comments On Grand Theft Auto V PC Mods and Bans

May 7, 2015

Many Grand Theft Auto V PC players have been wondering what Rockstar's stance is on modding. The company has gone out of its way to make it difficult to adjust files, and each game update so far has broken previously created mods. Despite this, it appears that Rockstar supports modding as long as it doesn't get in the way of multiplayer balance.

Rockstar posted the following on its blog:

We have always appreciated the creative efforts of the PC modding community and we still fondly remember the awesome zombie invasion mod and original GTA map mod for GTAIV PC among many other classics. To be clear, the modding policy in our license has not changed and is the same as for GTAIV. Recent updates to GTAV PC had an unintended effect of making unplayable certain single player modifications. This was not intentional, no one has been banned for using single player modifications, and you should not worry about being banned or being relegated to the cheater pool just for using single player PC mods. Our primary focus is on protecting GTA Online against modifications that could give players an unfair advantage, disrupt gameplay, or cause griefing. It also bears mentioning that because game mods are by definition unauthorized, they may be broken by technical updates, cause instability, or affect your game in other unforeseen ways.

Rockstar's acceptance of mods is good news for many, although it's important to take into consideration that some single-player focused mods are designed in such a way that they unintentionally lend the player a disadvantage in multiplayer. For example, an FOV mod that can allow a player to see more of the game world on their screen can easily be labeled a cheat by Rockstar. The same can be said of player and car model skins that can make it easier to locate players during skirmishes.

The safe bet is to avoid using mods altogether when playing online. There's no telling what Rockstar will deem unfair, and given its harsh punishment of cheaters in the past it's not worth risking.

Although Jonathan Leack began covering the gaming industry in 2009, his earliest roots date back to 2004 when he wrote his first of many reviews to come. Equipped with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and several information technology certifications, he provides a unique perspective that is technological and business conscious. Having acquired the role of Executive Editor in 2016, his mission is to make GameRevolution a gaming site that thoughtfully considers the consumer perspective, and has a knowledgeable presence of PC gaming, console, hardware, and eSports coverage.