To download and install the Hot Coffee mod, players had to use a third-party modification tool, such as the "Game Modifier" or "Cleaver." These tools allowed players to access and modify the game's code.
While Rockstar released official patches to remove this content (v1.01 and "Second Edition"), the mod remains widely available for those with the original v1.0 PC version of the game.
However, the legacy of the Hot Coffee mod lives on, and it remains a significant and fascinating example of the complex and often contentious relationship between game developers, players, and regulators.