Rockstar publishes official modding rules ahead of GTA VI

Rockstar Games has published official modding guidelines on its website. They set out what players and content creators may and may not do with its games. The company describes the page as a way to "maintain a fun, creative, and welcoming place for players and content creators." GamesRadar+, Insider Gaming, IGN, Eurogamer and PC Gamer all reported on it today.

The guidelines are split into four categories:

• Respect Our Games
• Do Not Infringe Rockstar Games or Third-Party IP
• Do Not Harm the Creator Community
• Do Not Engage in Unauthorized or Abusive Monetization

Rockstar explains its reasoning in a single passage:

"Rockstar Games creates unique worlds, characters, and stories, which form the official continuity of our games. Like all creators, we have the right to set limits on how others can use our games and brand."

The wording quoted by GamesRadar+ turns that into three firm limits. Mods may not "expand or modify Rockstar Games' official storylines, plots, missions, characters, or other elements of our established continuity." They may not combine "maps, locations, characters, storylines, in-game assets, or other IP from one Rockstar Games title into another title." And they may not get Rockstar's games running on "consoles, hardware devices, or other platforms where they have not been officially released by Rockstar Games."

According to Insider Gaming, multiplayer modding is allowed only through Rockstar's own licensed Creator Platform or other platforms Rockstar has licensed. Creating, sharing or using cheat menus, or any software that disrupts Rockstar's official multiplayer services or a licensed creator platform, is prohibited. Mods also may not use Rockstar's IP or logos to suggest they are affiliated with the company, may not use anyone else's protected IP, and may not modify or reuse voiceover performances.

The content rules ban pornography and mods that "endorse violent extremism, promote self-harm, physically threaten any other player", as well as mods that "present a risk to minor safety." Harassment is banned, and so is "conflict roleplay or military simulations depicting real-world armed organizations."

Money gets its own category. Any monetization has to go through digital storefronts Rockstar has approved. Real-world gambling, loot boxes and cryptocurrency or crypto assets, including NFTs, tokens, memecoins and stablecoins, are not allowed. Neither are third-party sponsorships or advertising. Charging for access to assets, missions or DLC that Rockstar created is also off the table.

What this means in practice is so far the outlets' reading, not anything Rockstar has said. IGN argues that the monetization rules appear to rule out influencer plans such as the GTA VI server Adin Ross has claimed would let players earn real money, unless Rockstar signs off on it. GamesRadar+ names the recent Red Dead Redemption 2 Mexico mod as the kind of cross-title project the rules may affect, and reports negative reactions from fans on Twitter.

The rules land in a scene Rockstar is already involved in. As IGN points out, the company previously acquired Cfx.re, the developer behind FiveM, and partnered with the roleplay server NoPixel. GamesRadar+ notes that FiveM passed 200,000 players on Steam in March.

For GTA VI itself, the new rulebook will have little to apply to for a while. The game is not coming to PC at launch, so IGN does not expect mods for it any time soon.