One of the food highlights of San Diego Comic-Con 2022 was Crackin' Bell, a pop-up fast food restaurant based on the fictional store from Grand Theft Auto. However, chicken was missing from the 2023 menu after Take-Two Interactive issued a cease-and-desist order.

Smokin' J's was also planning to offer game-inspired meals at its Burger Shot pop-up for the 2023 event. Both in-game restaurants are prominent in the "Grand Theft Auto" landscape: according to the unofficial GTA Wiki, they debuted in "GTA: San Andreas" and have appeared in every GTA game since.

"We look forward to welcoming GTA enthusiasts, Comic-Con visitors, and local San Diegans to these events to enjoy great food, drinks, and a truly unique video game-inspired experience," said Smokin' J's co-owner Josh George, co-owner of Smokin' J's, told Here San Diego.

However, just days before Comic-Con began, Smokin' J's announced that its plans had been scrapped. 'Smokin' J's BBQ told Rockstar Intel earlier this week. 'In light of this, we have been forced to cancel our Burger Shots event scheduled for this weekend.'

Michael Too, who was working with Smokin' J's on a GTA-based pop-up, confirmed the cancellation in an Instagram video.

Smokin' J's still intends to do a Cluckin' Bell-style installation over the weekend, but it will be a spoof of the Dont Cluckin' Tell brand. (In a move reminiscent of Nathan Fielder's "Dumb Starbucks.") The Burger Shot restaurant will not be renovated, but the good news for burger fans is that Smokin' Jays will be offering burgers and onion rings at half price through the weekend, as hundreds of pounds of ground beef have already been purchased for the pop-up.

It's a shame Take-Two has brought the hammer down on a fun and harmless GTA-inspired project, but not so surprising: publishers are notorious for taking care of their own property and even lawyers and pushy detectives when they start unauthorized play.

We have asked Take-Two for comment and will update if we hear back.