Luke Ross, a renowned VR modder, has halted access to his VR mods on Patreon after a DMCA takedown on his Cyberpunk 2077 mod by CD Projekt Red. This move highlights the precarious state of indie VR modding.
DMCA Takedown and Impact
CD Projekt Red issued the DMCA against Ross's Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod, which was accessible to $10-per-month Patreon subscribers. Although initially cited for being paywalled, CD Projekt Red later provided additional reasons for the takedown, which Ross disputes.
This action triggered a series of removals: Ross received another DMCA from 505 Games concerning his Ghostrunner mod. He subsequently decided to pull all his mods and paused Patreon billing for a month.
Response and Consequences
- Ross reported heightened piracy of his software after the takedowns.
- He attributes a "domino effect" of takedowns from other publishers to this issue.
- In response to these challenges, Ross is seeking a resolution but is prepared to close the project if needed.
Ross's R.E.A.L. VR mods, including those for games like Elden Ring and Final Fantasy VII Remake, integrate stereoscopic 3D, head-tracking, and OpenXR compatibility without containing game files.
Through a message titled "Under attack," Ross decried how current DMCA procedures force creators into costly legal battles, potentially leading to account termination with repeat claims. As Ross navigates this landscape, the future of indie VR modding remains uncertain.
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