Cyberpunk 2077 VR Mod Conflict Takes a Turn as Piracy Escalates
A dispute between modder Luke Ross and CD Projekt Red has taken an unexpected turn, with the creator of a popular Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod stating the conflict has become “pointless” due to widespread piracy. The situation arose after CD Projekt Red requested the removal of Ross’s modifications, leading to a diplomatic exchange with Jan Rosner, the studio’s deputy director, on X (formerly Twitter).
The Road to Piracy
Ross initially disagreed with the removal of his work, but the situation dramatically shifted when the mod was forcibly taken down from his Patreon account at the request of the Polish developer. According to Ross, this action inadvertently fueled a surge in piracy.
“People fearing the loss of VR support for their favorite games began pirating and illegally spreading the mod across the Internet, brazenly claiming that since I had not complied with CDPR’s terms, my work was now fair game and I should be punished through theft,” Ross explained via IGN. “In a sense, CDPR already got what it wanted.”
The Value of VR Modding and the R.E.A.L. Framework
Ross is well-known in the modding community for his work with the R.E.A.L. (Rendering Enhanced Asset Library) virtual reality framework. This framework supports VR mods for a wide range of games, including Elden Ring, Days Gone, and Far Cry. Through his Patreon account, Ross earns substantial income – up to $20,000 per month (approximately 72,000 Polish złoty), as reported by IGN – to support the ongoing development of R.E.A.L. and its associated mods.
CD Projekt Red’s primary concern centered around the commercial nature of Ross’s work, despite stating they had no objections to free distribution within the community. This stance led to the pirated versions being labeled as “fair game” by some users who felt Ross was being penalized for not adhering to the studio’s terms.
Future Availability and Patreon Support
Ross has not ruled out making the Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod available for free, but cautioned that it would require significant effort. “It would take some time because my software supports over 40 games and many completely different engines, which makes creating a version that supports exclusively Cyberpunk 2077 is not an easy task,” he stated.
He also expressed concern for his Patreon supporters, noting that those who voluntarily contribute to the development of R.E.A.L. “may not be happy with the mod being suddenly given to everyone just because I was forced to do so.”
This situation highlights the complex relationship between game developers, modders, and the community, and the unintended consequences that can arise from content disputes.
