Releasing in the mid 1990s, the originalGrand Theft Autolooked very different from Rockstar’s latest entries in the franchise. Featuring a top-down perspective, there was none of the open world thatGrand Theft Auto 5offers, letting players create chaos throughout six levels spanning across three cities. A lot of the team that worked onthe originalGrand Theft Autoare no longer a part of Rockstar, but some of these developers still have access to and post about the work they have done on the franchise’s past.
One of those developers is Mike Dailly, who recently posted two videos showing prototype gameplay of the firstGrand Theft Auto, giving fans a look at the original build of the game. Dailly, who was a founder of DMA Designs, which is now known as Rockstar North, was then shocked to see that his videos had since been taken down due to a copyright strike by theGrand Theft Autodeveloper. Dailly has since taken to Twitter to state his dissatisfaction with the turn of events.
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Fans ofGrand Theft Autowere disappointed to find out that Rockstar could be taking down videos showing the process of how the iconic franchise was first conceptualized. Footage of the development of theearlyGrand Theft Autogamesis rare enough, and many argued it could be a useful source for video game history and preservation. Rockstar has currently not commented on the removal of Dailly’s footage, but from the developer’s allegations it seems his video won’t be the only one risking take-downs.
According to Dailly, Rockstar is targeting any footage of a game in development tied toGrand Theft Auto. Previously, Rockstar has taken down fan projects, including recently issuing a notice against some ambitious mods that gaveGTA 5andRed Dead Redemption 2VR modes. Also, in 2021, the developer, understandably, forced a popularGTA Onlinecheat site to shut down, so it does have a history of removing content online related toGrand Theft Auto. However, it does seem odd to take down a video of the originalGrand Theft Auto, especially considering the value it could have for video game preservation.
Rockstar is currently focused onthe development ofGrand Theft Auto 6. WithGTA 5having been out for nearly a decade, many are looking to see what the developer has set up next for the future of the beloved franchise. Still, many are likely to be concerned about the removal of some valuable footage related toGrand Theft Auto’spast and origins.
