…no one has been banned for using single player modifications, and you should not worry about being banned or being relegated to the cheater pool just for using single player PC mods. Our primary focus is on protecting GTA Online against modifications that could give players an unfair advantage, disrupt gameplay, or cause griefing.”–Rockstar Q&A Post
For a while, it seemed as though Rockstar was one of the most lenient in policing online modding. Grand Theft Auto IV was full of comedic things that could be done via mods, such as this one done for Back-to-the-Future. The company has taken a more strict stance with GTA V, banning players that are given “…an unfair advantage, disrupt gameplay, or cause griefing.”
Long time player and video creator know by the alias Ben Buja, reached out to us in regards to a recent ban. At this point in time, he isn’t able to access the GTA Online, nor is he available to launch the single player mode of the game. In terms of the most recent stances that Rockstar has taken on modding, it doesn’t seem odd that they would outright ban someone that has violated the Terms of Service, or any other restricted mods. But, according to Buja, he didn’t use anything.
He took some time to answer our questions below:
PC GE: What matches were you involved with or what was the group (hackers) doing during the matches? Had you been in matches with them before?
I only joined the server briefly as I was between doing different stunt setups with my brother. I wasn’t directly in contact with the hackers, my brother was. Apparently they could apply ragdoll forces to players and kill them over and over, even when the victims are in passive mode. It’s also possible to kill players in someone elses name. To force the victim to report the player they think are hacking.
PC GE: How did you feel about the GTA V community of modders prior to the ban? Post?
I’m perfectly fine with modding the single player and changing the gameplay however you like, but I despise it when someone just use trainers to grief players and cheat in multiplayer.
I still feel like this after being randomly banned.
If you want to mess around with mods in multiplayer with your friends I suggest to take a look at Five M which is a multiplayer mod for GTA V without all the levelling.
PC GE: Have you contacted anyone from Rockstar in regards to the ban?
I contacted the Rockstar support on Twitter and submitted a ticket on the Rockstar Socialclub website. I didn’t get a response yet and I’m still completely locked out of the game.
PC GE: Do you plan on playing the game in the future if they are lifted? To your knowledge, is there anything you can do as a work around (i.e, create a new account, register with new credentials) to regain access or start all over?
Yes, I plan to come back to the game when the ban is lifted for all the saved ingame clips alone, which i can’t access at the moment. I don’t think there’s a work around other than buying another copy of the game and creating a new account.
Do you think the ban was intended? Was it simply a misunderstanding, or Rockstar’s way of mass punishment?
