The Universal Unreal Unlocker is a mod created by Frans “Otis_Inf” Bouma that brings a robust photograph mode to a protracted record of Unreal Engine 4 video games. It is a genuinely spectacular piece of software program that permits videogame photographers to seize photographs far past standard screenshots. Final 12 months he additionally created comparable, separate mods for Crysis Remastered 2 and three, which he provided (together with the most recent model of UUU) by way of his Patreon. However these Crysis mods are now not accessible: Crytek has requested Bouma to take them down.
The takedown request got here from Crytek PR supervisor Adam Grinsell, who advised Bouma that the EULAs for each video games don’t enable for mods. Due to that, Grinsell requested that Bouma “take away the mods out of your Patreon web page, and wherever else they seem for availability.” He additionally warned that in the event that they weren’t taken down inside seven days, the matter can be referred to Crytek’s authorized division.
Bouma pushed again, declaring that the mod is constructed fully on his personal code and makes no use of Crytek-owned property of any form. And that is the place issues obtained complicated: Grinsell replied to say that “the principle challenge with the software program is that it’s monetizes, due to this fact we request that you just take away the paywall,” a reference to the truth that the Crysis Remastered photograph mode mods are solely accessible to Patreon subscribers, at costs starting from $6.50 to $63.50 per thirty days.
The dispute finally got here to the eye of Reddit, main Crytek to apologize for its mishandling of the state of affairs. “The preliminary message led to a misunderstanding, and we now have apologised to the modder for this,” Crytek PR supervisor Utku Çakır wrote. “We actually respect all of the assist we obtain from the group, however we additionally need to stability this with defending our copyright. It may be a difficult stability to strike, and in hindsight we must always have approached the state of affairs otherwise.”
Regardless of the apology, Crytek’s base place remained unchanged: It insisted Bouma both give the Crysis Remastered photograph mode mods away to everybody, or take them down fully. Given no alternative, Bouma has opted for the latter.
“As I haven’t got the time nor the vitality to struggle them over this, plus having the instruments up would solely profit them as individuals would publish pictures of their recreation on social media and different websites, I’ve determined to tug the instruments and never make them public once more,” he wrote on Patreon. “I do know it hurts for the individuals who want to use the instruments in Crysis 2 and Crysis 3 remastered. To them, I am sorry. I labored greater than per week on these instruments and I would like to preserve them up but it surely’s solely benefiting Crytek if I do, and due to this fact they’re gone.”
Unsurprisingly, Bouma additionally mentioned he will not be engaged on photograph mode mods for some other Crytek video games sooner or later.
However Crytek being Crytek, they can not assist themselves and need to shoot themselves in their very own ft. If I’ve to tug my Crytek 2/3 remastered photomode mods, which simply add a photomode to those video games, I’ll however I will by no means create a customized photomode for any crytek recreation ever once moreJanuary 13, 2022
It is a disgrace the mod is gone, however the dispute additionally highlights doubtlessly bigger questions for different Patreon-supported mod makers. Very usually, recreation firms have a tendency to not sweat mods an excessive amount of so long as no one’s earning profits on them, and can generally even grant them an official blessing: Installation 01, as an example, is a fan-made Halo recreation that was given a non-commercial license, contingent on the builders by no means accepting any sort of cash for the work—not even donations. Bouma’s monetization of his work was overt, and despite the fact that his level about it being fully his code could also be legitimate, it doesn’t suggest a lot if he is not prepared to contest the purpose in court docket—and understandably, that is one thing most particular person mod makers cannot or will not do.
I’ve reached out to Crytek for remark and can replace if I obtain a reply.
