Cyberpunk 2077 VR Modification Removed by Creator Amid Legal Dispute

The developer behind the widely acclaimed R.E.A.L. VR modification for Cyberpunk 2077 has expressed frustration towards CD Projekt, labeling the company’s actions as an example of “iron-clad corporate logic” after receiving a DMCA notice that led to the mod’s removal.

Luke Ross, the mod’s creator, took to his Patreon over the weekend to address the situation, explaining, “Many of you may have observed that two of my recent updates vanished about a week ago. I regret my inability to discuss this directly due to ongoing legal matters.”

Now that things have calmed down, he revealed, “It’s with a heavy heart that I inform you we are parting ways with a project that many of you cherished. CD Projekt SA has chosen to follow a path similar to that of Take-Two Interactive Software, issuing a DMCA notice against me for the removal of the Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod.”

Ross is known for developing the R.E.A.L. VR framework, which enables virtual reality support for multiple games, including titles like Elden Ring, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Marvel’s Spider-Man, among others. The catch, however, is that to access this mod, one must subscribe to his Patreon, leading to conflicts with major publishers like CD Projekt that typically oppose monetization of mods. The comparison to Take-Two stems from that company’s previous DMCA actions against the R.E.A.L. VR mod for games like Grand Theft Auto V in 2022.

Ross articulated his discontent, stating, “Ultimately, it reflects the same rigid corporate mentality: every action taken by a company is driven by profit, whereas all endeavors by modders must be entirely free of charge.” He added, “They stretch the notion of ‘derivative work’ to the breaking point, as if a system that allows users to experience over 40 games in immersive 3D VR was somehow constructed using their intellectual property.”

Moreover, he lamented the lack of appreciation from the company, noting, “They demonstrate zero concern for the joy that their game brought to players through VR, nor do they acknowledge the additional sales generated without investing in an official VR adaptation—especially since they have no intentions of creating their own VR version.”

Notably, the R.E.A.L. VR modification has proven to be quite profitable, with reports indicating that Ross, who does not use his real name publicly, earned upwards of $20,000 a month from it in 2022.

Responses on Ross’ Patreon page reflect a mix of support and criticism directed at CD Projekt, with some urging followers to reach out and request the withdrawal of the takedown notice. Others suggested that he could release the Cyberpunk 2077 mod as a free standalone offering, allowing for optional donations.

The discourse on the Virtualreality subreddit has also been intense. One user remarked, “This isn’t the first time the modder has had to take down a project due to attempts at monetization. He was aware he was violating the terms of service and chose to exploit it for as long as possible before now portraying himself as the victim.”

Another user pointed to the similarities between this takedown and previous removals of VR mods for Rockstar games, arguing that the creators behind these titles have explicitly stated that paid mods are not permitted. One commenter emphasized, “Mods should not be a source of profit; not everything needs to be monetized. He should not expect to earn excessive amounts for something he initially created using others’ code.”

While the donation approach may have been acceptable, CD Projekt’s fan content guidelines prohibit commercial use, which closely aligns with what Ross is attempting with the R.E.A.L. VR mod. The guidelines specifically state, “We welcome reasonable donations related to your fan content, but charging for it or placing it behind any paywall is not allowed.”

Despite his evident frustration over the situation, Ross concluded his message on a hopeful note by announcing that R.E.A.L. VR now includes support for Baldur’s Gate 3. The community will soon witness how Hasbro reacts to this development.