GTA Wiki:Media Policy

This page details GTA Wiki's official policy on all things related to images, audio and videos. If you need further help with the media policy, see the How To article.

Before uploading
Please review the Wikipedia Non-free content policy. While GTA Wiki does not enforce it as strictly as Wikipedia does, we do fully acknowledge that the Grand Theft Auto series and everything associated with it are copyright to Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive.

Tools
Please use Special:Upload which also allows multiple files that use the same license to be uploaded and licensed simultaneously.

We do not recommend uploading files using msUpload in the source page editor, as it does not provide the option to rename or license files before they are uploaded nor do we recommend using the Media Upload tool in the Visual Editor as it again does not provide the easiest way to license the file. Please see the How To guide to correct files uploaded using these upload methods.

Legal
Unless otherwise specified, all rights to all images reside with Rockstar Games and Take Two Interactive.

Media that is not copyrighted to Rockstar
Images such as fan artwork posted to DeviantArt may only be uploaded to GTA Wiki by the original artist and should not be included in article space.

Media licensing
The upload page has a drop down menu containing all the necessary licenses. Selecting an option automatically adds a licensing template to an uploaded image.

File names
Files should have sections separated with hyphens (-), and individual sections must be written without any spaces or underscores (_). Files that are uploaded with meaningless names or overly broad names, such as Image:Gallery345 or Image:Tommy, should be renamed immediately.

Files should be named in the following manner:


 * Artwork: Artwork-CharacterName-GameAbbreviation
 * Characters: CharacterName-GameAbbreviation-ShortDescriptionIfNecessary
 * Locations: LocationName-GameAbbreviation-ShortDescriptionIfNecessary
 * Missions: MissionName-GameAbbreviation-ShortDesciptionIfNecessary
 * Products/Brands: BrandName-ShortDescriptionIfNecessary-GameAbbreviation
 * Vehicles: VehicleName-GameAbbreviation-AngleOfView-ShortDescriptionIfNecessary
 * Voice Actor photos: FirstnameLastname
 * Weapons: WeaponName-GameAbbreviation-ShortDescriptionIfNecessary

Game Abbreviations
This section applies to media uploaded after November 2021. Existing files are not expected to comply with this section.

Not all versions of a game title will have the same content. Disputes over the validity of the content which may not be visible to players on other versions can arise with accusations of Modifications being used. To avoid this, we can qualify the Game Abbreviation section of a file name as follows: In addition to the all caps game abbreviation, a lowercase qualifier should be added to specify/identify the version of the game the screenshot was obtained from. When the media illustrates something that is specifically different in a game between platforms (e.g. console vs PC), the platform abbreviation can optionally be added. e.g. -GTAVePC- -GTAOeePS5- -GTASAdePS4-
 * Game Abbreviations for different game versions
 * No qualifier required for the original release version of any game.
 * e for the Enhanced Version of GTAV/GTAO (PS4, Xbox One, PC). e.g. -GTAVe-
 * ee for the Expanded and Enhanced Version of GTAV/GTAO (PS5 or Xbox Series X/S). e.g. -GTAOee-
 * de for the Definitive Edition remake of the Trilogy: GTAIII, GTAVC and GTASA. e.g. -GTAVCde-
 * m for mobile ports. e.g. -GTAIIIm-
 * Game Abbreviations for different gaming platforms

Image size
Generally, screenshots should be neither too small nor too big. Images that are too small fail to properly illustrate what they show. Large, high quality images are a stretch on fair use.

Images should be no smaller than 400x400. There is no point in uploading thumbnail images to the wiki. Overly large or overly small images should be deleted. What constitutes "too large" is somewhat subjective and changes over time as display technology improves. In 2010, a 1920x1080 screen was at the top end of the scale. By 2020, they were considered the standard size and a 3840x2160 screen was at the top end.
 * Game texture files should not be upscaled though. i.e. If a texture file that is used by the game is 64x64, it is exempt from the recommended minimum of 400x400.

Customized Vehicles
As prescribed in the Manual of Style, if the vehicle is modified by the player, it CANNOT be featured on a vehicle page, however, if the vehicle is found "pre-modified" in the game, (i.e. in the enhanced version of GTA V), it can be included in the gallery. Incidental inclusion of user-customized vehicles in screenshots of other content (i.e. where it can be seen in the shot but is not the subject of the shot) are permissible.

Videos
The standard MediaWiki EmbedVideo extension is enabled on all Fandom Wikis. Video from supported sources is no longer required to be uploaded and maintained as a file page on the wiki and can simply be embedded into articles. Please do not upload videos after September 2021.

Full information on the supported use is visible on the MediaWiki page
 * Basic Syntax

e.g.

The extension supports start and end times as urlargs (the fifth piped parameter after the video ID).

GTA Wiki's preferred video partner for in-game content is GTA Series Videos on YouTube.
 * ALL videos must have a clear picture and audio.
 * All videos must be copyrighted to show who the video belongs to, the video's site and Rockstar Games.
 * All videos must be GTA related (some exceptions may be allowed as long as an administrator is aware and agrees).
 * Videos MUST NOT violate other policies such as leaked information or modifications.
 * Videos must have an extra copyright if it features music.
 * Videos, like images, must not have a watermark.

Audio
Audio should be uploaded as open-source  *.ogg files.

Quotes and game files
Quotes and dialog audio clips should be less than 20 seconds long if possible.

Music files
Avoid using copyrighted songs on .ogg audio files. (Unless it is a song made for the game e.g. Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto 2 and Grand Theft Auto Advance soundtrack).

If necessary, upload an .ogg audio file of a recognizable part of the music that is less than 20 seconds long, using the Fair Use license. See GTA Wiki:Copyright for more detail on the copyright policy.

Staff Legacy and Notes
All Staff members of the GTA Wiki are expected to enforce the Media Policy, by regularly maintaining the Recent Files list and ensuring images meet said policy. It is also important these images meet any additional Manual of Style that may apply.

Staff are able (and expected) to:
 * Rename files in accordance with Name rules above.
 * Add, remove or replace licenses in accordance with Licensing rules above.
 * Consider deletion of the file with valid reasoning.
 * Ensure previous versions of files are not overwritten by the wrong image.
 * Update redirects of files if necessary.
 * Ensure files are not duplicated.
 * Alert users and uploaders if they are not meeting the standards of the Media Policy.
 * Alert users if/why their files have been deleted if necessary.