Is the golden age of high-end game modification coming to a litigious end? Luke Ross, the prolific developer behind the virtual reality conversion for Cyberpunk 2077, has declared himself “under attack” after a second major publisher issued a copyright strike against his work. The modder has effectively shut down his lucrative Patreon page and pulled access to his entire catalog of over forty VR modifications following a new takedown notice from 505 Games regarding the title Ghostrunner.
• Ross paused his Patreon and pulled all mods
• 505 Games issued a strike for Ghostrunner
• He claims he is under attack by publishers
This crackdown has immediate financial consequences for Ross who reportedly generates twenty thousand dollars a month by gating his software behind a subscription paywall. Potential subscribers visiting his page are now met with a stark warning that no benefits are currently available while he navigates the legal storm. Existing supporters will see their access extended without charge, though the platform itself has warned that repeated copyright violations could lead to the total termination of his account.
• Ross reportedly earns $20,000 monthly
• Patreon access is currently suspended
• Repeated strikes threaten his account termination
Trouble began earlier this month when CD Projekt Red targeted the Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod specifically because it was being monetized. Executives at the Polish studio clarified publicly that while they support the modding community, they strictly forbid profit-making using their intellectual property without explicit permission. They demanded the creator either release the modification for free or remove it entirely which set a precedent that seemingly encouraged other rights holders to take similar action.
• CD Projekt Red targeted the paid nature of the mod
• The studio forbids monetizing their IP without permission
• They demanded the mod be free or removed
Ross vehemently disagrees with the characterization of his work as derivative fan content subject to publisher whims. He argues that his creation is independent software that functions similarly to an overlay or performance tool like RivaTuner rather than a modification of the game’s actual assets or code. This defense hinges on the technical distinction that his framework intercepts visual data to create stereoscopic 3D without distributing any copyrighted files owned by the game studios.
• Ross argues his work is independent software
• He compares it to performance tools like RivaTuner
• The software reportedly uses no copyrighted assets
Converting the framework to a free release would be a monumental task according to the developer. He notes that separating the specific Cyberpunk code from his universal system would require significant labor that he is unwilling to perform after being what he describes as bullied. Gamers who downloaded the files prior to this blackout can continue using them indefinitely for now, but the future of high-profile paid VR conversions remains in serious jeopardy as the legal walls close in.
• Making the mod free requires significant extra labor
• Previous downloads remain functional for now
• The future of paid VR mods is uncertain
Via: IGN
