Rockstar rolls out significant update ahead of GTA 6 launch.

Fans of Grand Theft Auto 6 are already speculating about a potential PC version, even though Rockstar hasn’t made any official announcements yet. A recent update from the studio has given PC enthusiasts a bit more hope.

Rockstar, known for its expansive open-world titles, has released new modding guidelines that clarify what is permissible in user-generated content. These guidelines apply to both the GTA and Red Dead Redemption series, but let’s face it—while Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to sell, its PC presence has dwindled. On the other hand, Grand Theft Auto 5 remains popular on PC, but after nearly a decade since its port, it hardly needs new modding rules. This announcement feels like a proactive measure for what players can expect when GTA 6 eventually drops.

The guidelines are pretty clear-cut. Rockstar prohibits the creation or distribution of cheat menus that could disrupt online gameplay and disallows the use of third-party intellectual property. The studio aims to steer clear of mods that contain pornographic, extremist, or self-harm content. Additionally, players are not allowed to use mods to harass others or to monetize their creations.

There are some unexpected elements in the new guidelines as well. The first point emphasizes that players should “respect” the studio’s games. What does that entail? According to Rockstar:

Do not expand or modify Rockstar Games’ official storylines, plots, missions, characters, or other elements of our established continuity.

Do not create mods that merge maps, locations, characters, storylines, in-game assets, or other IP from one Rockstar Games title into another.

The guidelines also state that modders cannot create content that promotes or simulates “conflict” or “military” scenarios involving real-world organizations. Furthermore, the use of Rockstar’s own voice-over performances is off-limits.

How Rockstar will enforce these rules is still uncertain. While many popular mods for GTA 5 focus on enhancing gameplay, some of the most well-known mods from the past decade would technically breach these guidelines. For instance, mods like the Spider-Man mod or branded car mods wouldn’t be allowed under these new rules. This could also limit the creation of story or character mods, much to the dismay of fanfic writers.

While some may find these updated guidelines a letdown, there’s a silver lining. Rockstar has expressed its commitment to fully support the thriving role-playing community within GTA Online, which is predominantly made up of PC players.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is set to unveil a refreshed world with improved NPCs.