Rockstar's Official Modding Tool Coming for GTA 5: A New Era for Modders

Earlier this month, Rockstar Games took a major step in improving GTA 5 for PC players by bringing it up to the level of the current-gen console versions. But it’s not just the game that’s getting an upgrade – Rockstar-owned modding team Cfx.re, the creators behind the multiplayer mod FiveM, announced a huge development for the modding community. They’re releasing an official asset conversion tool for modders working with the latest version of GTA 5.

For those unfamiliar, FiveM has been around since 2015, offering players the chance to create custom multiplayer servers for unique experiences like roleplay. In 2023, Rockstar Games acquired the team behind FiveM, making the official move to further support modded servers. However, not everything has been smooth sailing. Just recently, a massive online drama erupted with over 73,000 words of allegations surrounding FiveM and its team. But despite the drama, this new tool is a game-changer for modders who want to keep their creations alive in the latest version of GTA 5.

As spotted by Rockstar news account @videotechuk_ on Twitter, Cfx.re posted an update explaining that with the recent PC upgrade for GTA 5, “custom assets currently used on FiveM and GTA 5 Legacy will not be natively compatible” with the new version. However, they have a solution. The team is developing a conversion tool to help modders make their assets compatible with the latest upgrade.

Now, for those who are unfamiliar with the technicalities of modding, don’t worry – the main takeaway here is that Cfx.re is creating a Rockstar-approved tool to support modding in GTA 5, something that has been historically tricky for modders to get right with Rockstar. In the past, Rockstar hasn’t exactly been modder-friendly. You might recall the drama surrounding the GTA 5 mod that added a fully functional Liberty City map, which was hit with a “friendly takedown” after Rockstar’s intervention. And before that, in 2022, a VR modder for GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 faced a DMCA takedown from Rockstar’s parent company, Take-Two Interactive. So, seeing a major modding tool from Rockstar themselves feels like a step in the right direction.

The new conversion tool will specifically help modders convert certain files to work with the current version of GTA 5. According to Cfx.re’s blog post, files like.ycd and.ybn won’t need to be converted. However, the tool will assist in converting other types of files, such as.ydd (dictionaries of multiple drawables),.ydr (generic models, textures, and lights),.yft (complex models used for pedestrians, vehicles, etc.), and.ytd (texture dictionaries). While these terms may sound confusing to non-modders, the key point is that the tool will make it easier for modders to bring their creations into the current-gen version of the game.

Cfx.re has not yet confirmed the exact release date for the tool, but they’ve assured the community that they’re working hard to finalize it. The team is currently focused on completing the final tasks needed before launch and has asked fans to stay tuned for updates.

This is a massive win for the modding community, and GTA 5 players in particular. With this official tool from Rockstar, modders will have new opportunities to bring fresh content to the game while staying in line with the latest updates and features. It’s an exciting time for GTA modding – a world that’s been full of ups and downs, but one that now has a little more official support to keep it thriving. Stay tuned for more details as Cfx.re gets closer to launching the tool!