An unofficial Grand Theft Auto 5 port for the original Nintendo Switch has been cancelled days before its planned release, after its creator said Take-Two Interactive issued a cease-and-desist notice.
The decision follows a public exchange between modder Mojso and Rockstar Games over updated modding rules that prohibit porting the company’s games to other consoles and platforms. The project had been demonstrated through gameplay footage and screenshots, with a public release reportedly close.
Switch port project is shut down
On September 28, Mojso announced that Paralympics Productions would close on October 3 and that development of the unofficial Switch version of GTA 5 would end. The announcement was as spotted by GamesRadar.
“Paralympics Productions is shutting down on October 3rd. Thank you everyone who supported us through tough times and lengthy development. I am sorry for not fulfilling your expectations and leaving you high and dry. I am thankful for Take Two’s mercy so this is the definitive end.”
Mojso said Take-Two’s lawyers had sent a cease-and-desist letter and suggested that continuing could lead to a full lawsuit. The modder said they wanted to avoid that escalation.
“I’m not an idiot to go against Take-Two,” explained Mojso. The modder also claimed that neither the port’s code nor its assets could be released for another developer to continue, because doing so might still expose them to legal action.
Modder acknowledges the legal risk
After another social-media user suggested Rockstar would lose a court case, Mojso rejected that view. The modder added that the rights holders had “solid grounds” and that earlier outspoken comments could be interpreted as evidence of deliberate intent.
“I wouldn’t win in court most likely. They have solid grounds, and with me being cocky it shows real intent for ‘mayhem,’ so I can’t even appeal to a jury or something like I didn’t know what I was getting into.”
The situation highlights the legal uncertainty surrounding unofficial ports, even when a project is created by a small independent team. For readers interested in arcade hardware projects, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide and DIY arcade kits offer a more straightforward path to building a gaming setup.
A public challenge comes back into focus
About a week before the shutdown announcement, Mojso had responded to Rockstar’s revised modding policy, which specifically barred fan-made ports of Rockstar games to other platforms. The restriction directly affected the Switch project.
On September 20, Mojso posted: “Try me, Rockstar. IDGAF.”
After that post was shared back with them following Take-Two’s intervention, Mojso replied: “They tried me. Fuck you want me to do? Fight with them in court? I wasn’t expecting them to hit back hard.”
With Paralympics Productions set to close on October 3, the planned Nintendo Switch release of GTA 5 will not proceed, and the project’s code and assets are not being made available to others.
For more news about gaming hardware and the wider arcade scene, visit RETROCADE’s Arcade Blog or browse the latest arcade machines.
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