The creator of the R.E.A.L VR modification for Cyberpunk 2077 has spoken out about the consequences of the recent takedown. Following a DMCA strike from CD Projekt Red earlier this week, the developer claims that pirates are now sharing his work illegally as a form of punishment.
In a statement provided to IGN, the modder, Luke Ross, explained his position regarding the situation. When asked if he would consider releasing the Cyberpunk 2077 mod for free, Ross stated that doing so would require a significant amount of work. He also expressed doubt that making it free would solve the problem, citing widespread piracy as a major issue.
“I do not rule out releasing the mod free for everyone, but it would take time,” Ross said. He noted that his software supports over forty different games and various engines. Creating a version specifically for Cyberpunk 2077 alone is a complex task. Additionally, he mentioned that supporters who have voluntarily contributed money to his development efforts might feel unhappy if the mod were suddenly given away for free.
Ross continued by explaining that the issue has become somewhat irrelevant due to recent events. After the unexpected DMCA strike forced the removal of the mod from his Patreon page, fans began to panic. Worried about losing VR support for their favorite games, these users started pirating and illegally exchanging the mod across the internet.
According to Ross, these pirates are openly justifying their actions by claiming that since he did not comply with CD Projekt Red’s terms of service, his work is now fair game. They argue that he should be punished by having his work stolen. In a way, Ross believes that CD Projekt Red has already achieved their goal through this backlash.
The core of the dispute was not the mod itself, but rather how it was distributed. The mod was available behind a Patreon paywall, alongside several other R.E.A.L VR mods Ross had created over the years. CD Projekt Red stated that this violated their ‘fan guidelines,’ which strictly prohibit selling content derived from their intellectual property for profit.
The company clarified their stance in a document shared by Ross. They stated that while they are happy for creators to accept reasonable donations connected to their fan content, they do not allow creators to make people pay for it. Content cannot be placed behind any sort of paywall, such as being available only to paid
Ross publicly pushed back against this decision on his Patreon page. He argued that the situation ultimately boiled down to corporate logic. He noted that every action a company takes is usually in the name of money, yet modders are expected to provide their work absolutely for free.
He further criticized the company’s interpretation of copyright law. Ross wrote that they stretch the concept of ‘derivative work’ until it is paper-thin. He questioned how a system that allows players to visualize over forty games in fully immersive 3D VR could be considered built using their specific intellectual property.
