The Rise and Fall of FiveM, a Popular GTA 5 Mod

FiveM is a unique mod for the fifth GTA, which allows you to manage the game servers. On each of them, you can install unique modifications, launch your own game modes and use new mechanics. However, the authors of this project faced many difficulties, from legal conflicts with Rockstar to internal strife, management chaos and corruption. In this article, we will tell the full history of FiveM, from its appearance on the Internet to the present day.

Launch of the FiveM modification (2015)

In 2015, a developer known under the pseudonym NTAuthority (NTA) released the FiveM mod for GTA 5. This is far from his first modification. For example, he is also the author of CitizenMP, which allows you to create multiplayer servers for this game. The main goal of FiveM was to provide the community with a tool for developing their own game modes based on Grand Theft Auto 5. This way, you can go beyond the standard capabilities of the official GTA Online. The mod used a separate executable file, which allowed bypassing the protection system and running any user modifications. Thanks to this, it became possible to add new mechanics to the game, from role-playing games in the spirit of RP servers to a full-fledged simulator of life in a big city.



FiveM quickly gained popularity, and the developers were able to monetize this project through donations and in-game payments. However, representatives of Take-Two Interactive soon noticed the modders.

Legal threats and the first stop of the project (2015)

In the same 2015, NTA received a lawsuit from Take-Two, which led to the closure of the project. In Social Club, the word FiveM was added to the blacklist, and in the media, Rockstar representatives called the mod pirated, although it only worked through a license.
It should be noted that the modder had previously had problems with Activision due to the fourDeltaOne project, which allows you to play the early parts of Call of Duty, the official servers of which have long been closed.

Period of active development (2017-2019)

However, thanks to the support of the players and the efforts of the team, FiveM was revived. It was possible to find a way to bypass the restrictions and improve the platform's protection from Take-Two interference.

Moreover, since 2017, the project has been actively developing and attracting new people. For example, the modder Disquse was able to increase the number of slots first to 64, and then to 600 players. As a result, really large RP servers appeared. And thanks to a stable environment for players and server owners, FiveM has become a full-fledged ecosystem.

Strange solutions and first problems (2020)

In 2020, FiveM users began to notice that strange events were happening on the platform. For example, servers began to periodically turn off for no apparent reason. In addition to the usual monetization, there were shadow schemes for paying for in-game purchases. All this caused indignation and led to a loss of trust.

It is difficult to name one specific reason for what is happening. Some sources claim that the matter is in the mental problems of NTA itself, others blame the greed of a group of people known as the Groot Gang, who joined the FiveM moderators. It is quite possible that both were happening in reality. Or the reasons are completely different, which we do not know yet.

Sale of FiveM and dismissal of the creator of the modification (2023)

Presumably, in 2023, one of the team members, known under the nickname Deltanic, negotiated with Rockstar about the sale of FiveM behind NTA's back and even sent his personal and financial data. The community believes that the guy was pressured to sign. As a result, the founder of the modification lost the rights to it and was soon fired.

There is also an opinion in the gaming community that the representatives of the Groot Gang do not have the necessary skills and motivation to lead such a complex project. After the departure of its creator, they were forced to do all the work themselves, which led to further decline. In fact, they make no effort to support FiveM.

The fate of FiveM after the acquisition of Rockstar (2023-2024)

Ethan Hirsch was appointed as the new head. Under him, changes began that the community did not like. For example, they announced the emergence of a new platform called ROME, which should replace FiveM. Many had doubts about whether it would retain openness and freedom for implementationmodifications.

In addition, Rockstar introduced new monetization rules that sharply reduced the profits of server owners. As a result, many of them left the project.

Groot Gang also began collaborating with alt:V, another multiplayer platform for GTA 5. Its influence on FiveM only grew over time, and the key figures who initially led the project were gradually removed.



Let's recall what alt:V became famous for. In 2023, the GTA 5 source code was leaked into the public domain. The community linked the leak to user TickleMePickle, but how he got the code remains a mystery. In November, alt:V contacted him to buy it and transferred the money, and he uploaded the code to MediaFire, which is accessible to anyone.

Crisis and an Uncertain Future (2024)

FiveM is currently going through a serious crisis. The main reasons are:

• The departure of key developers slowed down the release of updates;
  
• The community is split into two camps. Some support Rockstar's decisions, while others fear for the future of the project;
  
• The emergence of a new ROME platform with the ability to limit the freedom to use modifications causes discontent;
  
• Technical issues remain unresolved;
  
• Groot Gang is not taking active steps to further develop the project.
  

Комментарии моддеров

The creator of the banned mod Liberty City Preservation Project not only responded to the situation but also shared his thoughts:

A representative of Rockstar politely asked us to take the Liberty City Preservation Project links down because the legal team had an issue with it. He was very professional. We removed the links as a gesture of good faith, and made sure both parties agreed as to how we'd address this to the community.

After two Zoom meetings and several back and forth emails regarding how we could work together in the future, the contact from Rockstar became unresponsive in this area.

Later on, we became aware that one of the paid Liberty City mods suddenly had GTA IV props, custom scenarios, bug fixes, fixed up interiors, animated signs, subway and tunnel lighting, fixed traffic paths, etc. Here is one example: ⁠reseller-hall-of-shame⁠

This is a very strange coincidence considering these mods have always replaced the props with GTA V props. I emailed the contact from Rockstar, sending him a link to the project. He told me that he forwarded it to their enforcement teams (though I now have my doubts about that).

Currently, these expensive Liberty City mods (some of which sell for prices of around 500 Euros) are still up. It seems like claims made in the original FiveM developers' blog are correct. I don't want to get into speculation, but it wouldn't be surprising if someone is getting a slice of the pie.

Due to these revelations, we are uncertain if this takedown request is genuine.

Everyone says Rockstar is bad, but seems like they're even worse than people give them (dis)credit for. I have never seen this level of corporate pettiness before.

A good read on how internal fighting within FiveM led to some shady shit, the GTAV leak and much more. Rockstar took a gamble buying FiveM and it seems to have blew up in their face.

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FiveM has had a significant impact on modding in general. It helped popularize RP servers and demonstrated how much demand there is for custom modifications. Many large gaming companies began to take this trend into account, and some began to create their own solutions to support modding.

What do you think about this situation? Who is right and who is wrong? And what does the future hold for FiveM? Share your opinions in the comments!
The article was prepared based on materials from The Fall of FiveM and co-authored with Misty.