Uncovering Hidden Art in GTA Online's The Contract Update

Rockstar Games enthusiast Lucas7yoshi discovered that in The Contract, a content update for Grand Theft Auto Online, the developers had covered up some artwork at the beach, a change revealed using the CodeX modding tool. This isn't the first time something like this has happened. GTA Online fans might remember that shortly after the game's release, Rockstar replaced a statue because it looked very similar to a real-life sculpture at Venice Beach: Copyright issues with artists are not uncommon in video games, but the reason these particular graffiti were covered remains unknown. Games often undergo major changes due to copyright concerns, but cases involving real-life objects or locations can be especially surprising. For example, Solid Oak Sketches famously sued Take-Two Interactive for copyright infringement over the use of using NBA players' tattoos in the NBA 2K series. Or if you play Japanese games, you've probably noticed that developers modify Tokyo's iconic Shibuya 109 mall by changing numbers to avoid copyright issues. GTA 6 is expected to launch on November 9, 2026. Don't forget to subscribe to our Newsletter and join our 80 Level Talent platform, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, and Instagram, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.