Rockstar adjusts regulations for roleplaying servers:
GTA RP servers are tolerated by Rockstar – NFT, cryptocurrencies and loot boxes are not
Thanks to Twitch, the new role-playing servers are particularly popular with GTA players. The developers of the game (and Take Two Interactive) have now adjusted their rules for these specific servers. The company stated that it allows and supports the RP servers for GTA Online. However, a limit should be drawn in the case of “commercial exploitation”.
Many servers, including GrandRP or Nopixel, are exploiting the game to earn money. Rockstar wrote that this is not allowed.
One server has already been closed by Rockstar
Rockstar now bans for “commercial exploitation” of the RP servers, including bans on
- selling loot boxes for real money currency
- the sale of cryptocurrencies
- generating revenue through promotional deals
- the use of crypto-currencies or crypto-assets (e.g. NFTs)
- Servers are also prohibited from misusing Rockstar’s intellectual property or interfering with the official servers with role-playing servers.
What’s behind this?
These role-playing servers in GTA Online are extremely popular worldwide and have made the 9-year-old GTA 5 the new hit game on Twitch in recent years. Rockstar doesn’t seem to mind either.
But now they are issuing clear rules so that money is not made on this role-playing server with things that Rockstar itself does not approve of.
Such blatant “commercial things” that have a detrimental effect on the players are apparently clearly to be prevented so that other people do not do fraudulent business with GTA Online, which could then have a negative impact on publishers and developers.
Rockstar and Take-Two have been making a fortune from GTA Online for almost 10 years by selling premium currency: GTA 5 is considered one of the most commercially successful games of all time.
The new Policy Update of Rockstar
Read the Policy update here:
https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/11374598771091/Roleplay-RP-Servers
Question: Are Roleplay (RP) Servers Allowed?
Answer: Rockstar Games has always believed in reasonable fan creativity and wants creators to showcase their passion for our games. Third party “Roleplay” servers are an extension of the rich array of community-created experiences within Grand Theft Auto that we hope will continue to thrive in a safe and friendly way for many years to come.
As such, Take-Two’s legal enforcement policy will be aligned with our current PC Single-Player mods policy, with priority in enforcement actions focused on: (i) misuse of Rockstar Games trademarks or game intellectual property (IP); (ii) importation or misuse of other IP in the project, including other Rockstar IP, real-world brands, characters, trademarks or music; (iii) commercial exploitation, including the sale of “loot boxes” for real-world currency or its in-game equivalent, the sale of virtual currencies, generating revenue via corporate sponsorships or in-game integrations, or the use of cryptocurrencies or crypto assets (e.g. “NFTs”); (iv) making new games, stories, missions, or maps; or (v) interfering with our official multiplayer or online services, including Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online.
Rockstar Games, 2022
Source: https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/11374598771091/Roleplay-RP-Servers
Are RP servers now ‘illegal’?
No, they are not completely forbidden. However, servers that sell items or collect money (donations) are prohibited, even if that money is used for expenses. This means: Any server where you can pay (or donate) money is illegal and should be reported to Rockstar.
How to report monetized servers
To report a server making money, you can contact TakeTwo directly via copyright email. Or you can contact Rockstar Support. The following emails are helpful:
- copyright@take2games.com (Legal department TakeTwo)
- support@rockstargames.com (Rockstar Games Support)
What it means for server owners
- You are allowed to run a roleplay server
- You are not allowed to earn money or collect donations for your server
- You are not allowed to sell anything (crypto, NFTs, ingame content)
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