Modding video games can lead to all manner of interesting experiences, and few series have been as heavily modded as Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto. Many mods around the Internet change in-game aesthetics and models, such as a GTA: San Andreas mod adding Insomniac's Spider-Man as a playable character, but some, like a recently created Grand Theft Auto 5 mod, have had much more practical real-world effects.
A modder who goes by Makinolo uploaded "GTBikeV" to the site GTA 5 Mods on May 20, which allows any player who downloads and installs it to turn their Smart Bike Trainer into a controller for the game, essentially letting them have an "immersed" bike ride throughout its open world. The mod reads in-game inclines, terrain materials, and wind so that information can be sent to a player's exercise bike according to Makinolo, and all the data collected can be sent to a training app so any progress can be tracked.
GTBikeV is also programmed with auto driving that "uses the best driving skill level available in the game," that way users do not have to control their own pathing and worry about crashing into cars or pedestrians around GTA 5's map of Los Santos. Players are still able to control their own steering with a keyboard or controller if desired.
Makinolo said "actual physical exercise" is required for the mod to be meaningful, and it can only be utilized with story mode and not Grand Theft Auto: Online. There are more open creation means available in GTA Online for those who like customizing the game, which has led to players recreating maps like Shipment from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in the past.
GTA Online is typically the bastion for modding, hacking, and whatever other crazy things fans of Rockstar's open-world sandbox title might be able to accomplish. However, recently GTA 5 hackers have been able to mess with story mode as well, adding in a chaotic element like giant UFOs and other objects throughout the world.
On the bright side, hacking and modding GTA 5's story mode has also led to positive things like Makinolo's exercise mod, which provides an interesting way to keep fit while gyms are closed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. These kinds of developments are part of the reason why GTA 5 has had insane lifetime sales, having sold 130 million units since launch.
Grand Theft Auto 5 is out now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Source: GTA 5 Mods