GTA 5 Switch port canceled after Take-Two Interactive files cease-and-desist

A developer had made great strides with a homebrew GTA 5 Switch port. Unfortunately, the project ended abruptly after Take-Two Interactive took legal action against its maker. Frustrated fans continue to call for Rockstar Games to bring more Grand Theft Auto titles to Nintendo hardware.

What made the port unique

M0jso of Paralympics Productions, modified leaked source code from 2023 to adapt GTA 5 for the Switch. Notably, the release ran natively on the handheld rather than relying on emulation or cloud streaming. Players needed a jailbroken console running custom firmware to test the build.

The port performed better than earlier versions, although without overclocking, frame rates fell well below 30 fps. Nevertheless, it was the first time some Nintendo supporters could explore the 5th entry’s Los Santos map. These gamers now need to turn to other platforms or wait for an official solution.

As explained on social media, Paralympics Productions will close on October 3rd. In the replies, M0jso reveals he received a cease-and-desist notice from the publisher. Rather than risk further legal consequences, the developer is no longer updating the homebrew effort.

Many followers have asked M0jso to make the source code for the GTA 5 Switch port available. However, he believes the action would prompt a full-blown lawsuit. As seen with their pursuit of Cyberleek, Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar will go to considerable lengths to protect copyrights.

The wait continues

Considering that the game debuted on the PS3 and Xbox 360, Nintendo fans question why a homebrew alternative is even necessary. GTA 4 has also been ignored, but it uses an engine that would likely require more optimization for the Switch’s ARM-based processor. Currently, the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is the only option on the handheld.

Despite the profitability of GTA Online, Rockstar may not think the undertaking is worth the potential sales. It could be facing the same dilemma with a potential GTA 6 Switch 2 version. Recently, a former developer argued the studio should focus on the PS5 and its core audience.