Ahead of the official release of Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar has unveiled new modding guidelines, setting boundaries for player-created content in Leonida and the broader Grand Theft Auto universe. The new rules prohibit mods from expanding or altering official storylines and do not allow the transplantation of maps, characters, or other content between different titles under its umbrella.
This guide quietly went live on September 10 and was subsequently discovered by users on the ResetEra forum. The guidelines cover what players and mod authors can and cannot change in Grand Theft Auto titles, with some restrictions also applying to other games under the Rockstar banner.
Rockstar states that the unique worlds, characters, and stories it creates collectively form the official continuity of its games, and the company reserves the right to restrict how its games and brand are used. Mod authors may not expand upon or alter official storylines, plots, missions, characters, or other elements within the established continuity.
The new rules also prohibit combining maps, locations, characters, storylines, in-game assets, or other intellectual property from one Rockstar game with another. In early 2025, a mod project that remastered the map from Grand Theft Auto IV into Grand Theft Auto V was taken down by Rockstar.
Multiplayer mods may only operate through Rockstar's officially authorized Creator Platform or with separate direct permission from the company. Mods must not enable the game to run on consoles, hardware devices, or other platforms never officially released by Rockstar, and must not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of Rockstar or third parties.
Regarding online content, Rockstar prohibits the creation, sharing, or use of cheat menus and other software that interferes with official multiplayer, online services, or authorized creator platforms. Mods and custom servers must not leverage Rockstar's intellectual property or branding for promotion, nor imply that related projects are endorsed by or affiliated with Rockstar.
The use of voices and likenesses is also restricted. Mod authors may not modify or reuse any voice performances from Rockstar games, nor may they use the voices, images, or likenesses of real individuals without proper legal permission. Rockstar further stated that it does not support mods that exploit or harm other players or damage the creator community, and all projects must adhere to its user rules and community guidelines.
In terms of content standards, mods containing pornography, promoting violent extremism, encouraging self-harm, making personal threats against other players, or endangering the safety of minors are not permitted. Rockstar also does not tolerate any form of insult, bullying, threats, or harassment, and prohibits mods from organizing or promoting conflict role-playing or military simulations based on real-world armed groups.
Mod monetization must be conducted exclusively through Rockstar's official Creator Platform; unless authorized by this platform, all other mods must remain non-commercial. Approved monetized projects may only use digital storefront services approved by Rockstar and must comply with applicable laws, rules, and policies. All other forms of commercial exploitation are strictly prohibited.
The new regulations also ban mods from incorporating real-money gambling, paid "loot boxes," gacha mechanics, or similar random paid mechanisms. Selling in-game virtual currency for real money is prohibited, as is the use or promotion of cryptocurrencies, NFTs, tokens, meme coins, stablecoins, and other crypto assets. Mod authors are likewise forbidden from setting up paywalls for access to Rockstar's game assets, missions, DLC, and other content.