Cyberpunk 2077 VR Mod Removed by CD Projekt Red

There are plenty of impressive mods for Cyberpunk 2077, but one that really stood out was created by modder LukeRoss, allowing players to dive into Night City in VR. Despite its popularity, this mod faced a DMCA strike from the game’s developer, CD Projekt Red.

This action wasn’t just a heavy-handed move; it stemmed from LukeRoss’s refusal to make his $10 mod available for free, even after CD Projekt Red requested it. Known for monetizing his mods, LukeRoss reportedly earns around $20,000 a month by adapting PC games for VR headsets, with access to these mods available through a Patreon subscription. This practice raised concerns for CD Projekt Red, leading Jan Rosner, the VP of business development, to explain that the strike was due to the mod violating their fan content guidelines, which stipulate that mods should be free.

In a tweet, Rosner expressed appreciation for mods, including Luke’s work, but emphasized that profiting from their intellectual property requires permission.

Instead of complying, LukeRoss stood firm, criticizing the company for what he called “corpo logic.” He shared his thoughts on Patreon, revealing that he had to remove some posts due to ongoing legal discussions. He lamented the loss of a beloved adventure for many fans, noting that CD Projekt Red had issued a DMCA notice against his VR mod, following a similar path as Take-Two Interactive Software.

He acknowledged that while the company was somewhat transparent in their communication, their reasoning boiled down to the same corporate mentality: companies prioritize profit, while modders are expected to create for free. He pointed out the absurdity of claiming that a system enabling immersive VR experiences for over 40 games somehow infringed on their intellectual property. He also expressed frustration that the company seemed indifferent to the joy their game brought to players in VR, despite the additional sales it generated without any investment in an official VR port.

Ultimately, it seems that profit is the only concern for them.

Am I a bit frustrated by all this? Absolutely. Especially when Meta just shut down three major VR studios. After four years of hard work keeping our mods functional despite CD Projekt Red’s frequent updates, it’s disheartening that they only reacted after someone reported the existence of the VR mod, showing little regard for the community’s efforts.

Despite his disappointment, this isn’t the first DMCA strike LukeRoss has faced, so it’s unlikely that CD Projekt Red’s actions will deter him. He has successfully created VR mods for other titles like Elden Ring and Far Cry 5, so it’s probable that he’ll shift his focus to modding another game soon.