Grand Theft Auto 5 may be seen as one of the best choices for modders to work with, given the game’s natural freedom and endless possibilities of play. According to recent reports, however, publisher Take-Two Interactive does not share the same enthusiasm for modded content as the community itself. Indeed, one popular mod creator has even claimed that the publisher has sent a pair of private investigators to his door.

The news comes directly from the creator of the popular FiveM mod, which allowed gamers to play GTA: Online without having to use Rockstar Games’ official servers. The Grand Theft Auto 5 mod creator took to Reddit, stating “I just got a pair of private investigators at my door claiming to be sent by Take Two.” According to the modder, the investigators handed him a phone, with a Take Two employee on the other end telling the modder to “discuss how to cease my activities with regard to Grand Theft Auto.”

The FiveM creator was told in finite terms by the Take Two representative that the publisher was “certain of its point,” and this modder is not the only one to be on the receiving end of the crackdown. The creators of GTA:MP mod have also been forced to cease development on their mod, after conversations with Take-Two Interactive. According to an update from the modders themselves, “Take-Two Interactive Inc. have contacted us and they asked us to stop GTA:Multiplayer.” With the publisher apparently seeing GTA:MP as a rival to Rockstar’s own official game, the modders have seen a strong crackdown on their activities.

Grand Theft Auto 5 has long been a haven of impressive modding, with some of the most impressive and creative examples of fan-made content being made available in the game. A user-made Incredible Hulk mod for the game made excellent use of the carnage that can unfold in the open-world setting. Meanwhile, another example saw a Fallout fan unable to wait for the release of Fallout 4 recreating numerous elements of the post-apocalyptic RPG series in Rockstar's crime title.

However, Rockstar and Take-Two are perhaps understandably concerned about the role that modding may play in piracy through unlicensed code alterations. The GTA developer in particular has been stringent in its removal of modded content from GTA: Online servers, attempting to crack down severely on those who cheat in online games. Meanwhile, a more serious cause for alarm comes in the form of Grand Theft Auto 5 mods that contain malware.

That said, the use of private investigators to force a modder to cease development on their content seems like something that should only be used in extreme circumstances, and as a last resort. Perhaps in future a more communicative approach will be used between publishers, developers, and fan creators.

Sources: Reddit, GTA-MP