GTA 5 Switch Mod Shut Down by Take-Two, Dev Thanks 'Mercy'

Ever dreamed of playing GTA 5 on your Switch? Well, that dream just got a cease-and-desist. The creator of a mod project aiming to port Grand Theft Auto 5 to Nintendo's handheld has shut it all down, apparently at the request of Take-Two Interactive.

The project, from Paralympics Productions, was set to release 'in the coming days,' according to the developer. But on October 3, it's officially over. The modder announced the shutdown and thanked supporters, while also apologizing for not being able to deliver. In a twist, he said he's 'thankful for Take-Two's mercy'—suggesting things could have gone much worse.

This all went down the same month Rockstar published new 'Mod Guidelines' telling players to 'respect our games' and explicitly banning mods that make its games run on unsupported consoles or devices. GTA 5 never officially came to Switch, so this fan project was always walking a tightrope.

The developer revealed he received a cease-and-desist notice and plans to comply because, in his words, 'I'm not an idiot.' No legal action has been taken yet, he added. When asked to release his code so others could continue, he refused, saying that would escalate the cease-and-desist into a formal lawsuit. He also said he'd likely lose if he fought Take-Two in court. 'They have solid grounds and with me being cocky, it shows real intent for mayhem,' he explained. 'So I can't even appeal to a jury or something like I didn't know what I was getting into.'

As for the project's future? There isn't one. 'I'm not releasing anything new and I'm not coming back. It's truly over. And no, no one will take over the project,' he wrote. He signed off with a blunt 'Peace out, girl scouts.'

For Switch owners, this is another reminder that GTA 5 remains absent from Nintendo's console. And while GTA 6 isn't expected on Switch 2 either, Rockstar has reportedly explored the possibility of bringing it over. So maybe don't lose hope entirely—just don't expect a fan mod to make it happen.

What do you think about Take-Two's crackdown on mods? Will you be picking up GTA 6 on whatever platform it lands on? Let us know in the comments.