CD Projekt Strikes Paid Cyberpunk 2077 VR Mod After Creator Refuses Free Release

CD Projekt Red has pulled the plug on one of the most popular VR mods for Cyberpunk 2077. Not because the mod was bad. Not because players didn't want to explore Night City in virtual reality. The studio killed it because modder Luke Ross refused to give his work away for free.

The Cyberpunk 2077 VR mod disappeared from Ross's Patreon page following a DMCA takedown notice issued by the Polish developer. Ross had been charging supporters £7.70 monthly for access to his entire catalogue of VR conversions - over 40 games transformed to work with VR headsets through his R.E.A.L. framework.

CD Projekt Red's VP of business development, Jan Rosner, confirmed the strike on X, explaining the company took action specifically because the mod sat behind a paywall. "We have indeed issued a DMCA strike, as it was available as a paid mod (only accessible to Patreon subscribers)," Rosner stated.

Four years of development wiped out

Ross originally released the Cyberpunk VR mod in February 2022. For nearly four years, players used the conversion to wander through the neon-soaked streets of Night City wearing VR headsets. The mod became one of Ross's most downloaded projects.

Then someone apparently tipped off CD Projekt Red about the paid nature of the mod. The studio sprang into action.

"At least they were a little more open about it, and I could get a reply both from their legal department and from the VP of business development," Ross wrote in a Patreon post titled "Another one bites the dust". He contrasted this with Take-Two Interactive's 2022 DMCA strike against his GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Mafia VR mods, where the publisher refused all communication.

But transparency didn't change the outcome. Ross accused CD Projekt Red of applying "iron-clad corpo logic" - an ironic reference to the greedy corporations featured in Cyberpunk 2077 itself. "Every little action that a company takes is in the name of money, but everything that modders do must be absolutely for free," he vented.

The derivative work debate

Ross rejects the legal argument. He maintains his VR framework doesn't use any of CD Projekt Red's intellectual property, code, or assets. The R.E.A.L. system functions as a rendering wrapper that allows existing games to display in stereoscopic 3D with head tracking. Players still need to own legitimate copies of every game his mods support.

"As usual they stretch the concept of 'derivative work' until it's paper-thin, as though a system that allows visualising 40+ games in fully immersive 3D VR was somehow built making use of their intellectual property," Ross argued.

CD Projekt Red sees things differently. The studio has consistently supported free modding for both Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher series, even releasing the full REDkit modding tools for The Witcher 3. But charging money for mods based on their games crosses a legal line the company won't tolerate.

The gaming community appears split. Forum discussions show many players sympathising with Ross's frustration whilst acknowledging CD Projekt Red's legal rights. "Companies can't allow others to profit from their own IPs without a licence," one Reddit user pointed out. "This could have been avoided if Ross simply released the mod for free and then asked for donations to his Patreon."

Timing couldn't be worse for VR

The takedown lands during a particularly rough patch for virtual reality gaming. Meta just shut down three VR development studios - Sanzaru Games, Twisted Pixel, and Armature Studio - as part of 10% layoffs across its Reality Labs division. A planned Batman: Arkham Shadow sequel got the axe.

Ross highlighted this irony in his post. "Especially in the same week when Meta pulls the plug on three major VR studios," he wrote, expressing particular bitterness about CD Projekt Red's timing.

The modder also noted he'd spent four years maintaining the Cyberpunk VR mod through CD Projekt Red's "constant breaking updates" - game patches that repeatedly broke VR functionality and required fixes. "They never even knew or cared during all this time that the VR conversion was there, and are only knee-jerk reacting now because somebody reported to them that it existed and it was not free."

No official VR version coming

Don't expect CD Projekt Red to fill the void. Ross confirmed the studio told him directly they're not planning an official VR port of Cyberpunk 2077. The company is currently focused on expanding The Witcher franchise and developing a Cyberpunk sequel targeting 2030.

There is a glimmer of hope. Flat2VR Studios - a development team specialising in officially licenced VR ports - publicly offered to work with CD Projekt Red on creating an approved Cyberpunk 2077 VR experience. The studio has successfully partnered with major publishers on projects like Half-Life 2 VR, Trombone Champ VR, and several other conversions.

"Hey @CDPROJEKTRED - we'd love to explore the idea of a proper, official VR port of Cyberpunk 2077 if you were ever interested," Flat2VR posted on X. "It's one of our 'dream games to port'."

CD Projekt Red hasn't publicly responded to the offer.

Ross moves on to Baldur's Gate 3

The modder isn't backing down. In the same post announcing the Cyberpunk VR takedown, Ross revealed his next project: a VR conversion of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3.

"Despite everything, I really want to end this on a positive note," Ross wrote, before unveiling the Baldur's Gate 3 VR mod. The isometric RPG presents unique technical challenges for VR conversion compared to first-person games like Cyberpunk 2077.

And yes, the Baldur's Gate 3 VR mod is also locked behind his Patreon subscription.

This sets up a potential confrontation with Wizards of the Coast, which owns the Dungeons & Dragons licence used in Baldur's Gate 3. Many observers predict Ross will face similar legal action if the mod gains traction.

The paid mod predicament

Ross's situation highlights an ongoing tension in gaming. Modders invest hundreds or thousands of hours creating transformative experiences for games. Many abandon full-time work or freelance contracts to focus on these projects. Ross himself stepped away from his primary freelance development career to build the R.E.A.L. framework.

But when modders attempt to monetise their labour through paywalls, publishers typically respond with legal threats. The alternative - offering mods for free whilst accepting voluntary donations - feels like an uncomfortable compromise to creators who view their work as deserving of payment.

Ross argues his VR conversions drive additional game sales. Players buy titles specifically to experience them in VR through his mods. He claims the Cyberpunk VR mod was downloaded approximately 200,000 times before the takedown, potentially generating significant revenue for CD Projekt Red without the studio investing in VR development.

CD Projekt Red doesn't see it that way. The studio maintains clear fan content guidelines prohibiting commercial exploitation of their intellectual property. Free mods with donation options pass legal muster. Subscription paywalls do not.

The debate rages on, with no clear resolution in sight. Ross continues building VR mods. Publishers continue issuing takedown notices. VR enthusiasts continue losing access to transformative experiences they desperately want.

Ross summed up his feelings about the Cyberpunk 2077 situation with a reference to an Ariana Grande song: "Anyway. Dear Cyberpunk 2077: I've got one less problem without ya."

Night City's neon lights will continue glowing. Just not in VR. Not unless CD Projekt Red changes its mind about working with someone like Flat2VR Studios. Or unless another modder picks up the torch and releases a free version.

For now, the debate between creative compensation and intellectual property protection continues to escalate, with VR gamers caught in the crossfire.