Crytek Takes Down Crysis 2 and 3 Remastered Photo Mods

Image Credit: Crysis 2 Remastered

Crysis 2 and 3 photo mode mods for the remastered versions have been withdrawn from all sites where they have been made available, according to Crytek.

Third-party mods for video games have remained a serious issue in the industry. Some say that mods help popular but aging video games like Skyrim last longer. Others, especially game developers and publishers, are concerned that mods will not only infringe on the copyright but will also divert earnings away from the IP owner. The release of Crysis Remastered Trilogy in October 2021 revived popularity in the series as well as mods that eventually improve the gameplay.

Two well-known mods for the remastered versions of Crysis 2 and 3 add more features and functions to the photo modes in the videogames. Frans Bouma, a software engineer who has released camera mods for a number of games like Far Cry 6, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Guardians of the Galaxy, made the mods. One of Bouma's most popular mods modifies the camera in Final Fantasy 7 Remake to resemble the original game's famous fixed positions.

Crytek has sent Bouma a cease and desist letter, requesting that he delete the mods he made for Crysis 2 and 3 Remastered. The company does not allow mods of its games or engine, according to the letter, and this is made clear in the EULAs for the games. Bouma complied with the request but expressed his displeasure on Twitter, claiming that Crytek was "shooting themselves in the foot" and that he would never mod another game from the firm. The modder boasted that he's made unique photo mode hacks for "more games than anyone else on the planet" and that game developers and publishers have always responded positively to his work.

Crytek apparently doesn't want thousands of people posting screenshots of their game on social media and other sites. FTR I don't distribute any game asset; my camera tools only contain binaries compiled from my own code and not linked to any game asset. pic.twitter.com/b2Pakbe9ze

— Frans Bouma (@FransBouma) January 13, 2022

Although several of the comments to Bouma's post suggested that he simply ignore the stop and desist letter, Crytek has the right to request that any modifications made to its games be removed. When Bouma called Crytek for an explanation, he was told that the company's main issue with the changes was that they were monetized through the modder's Patreon page. The response also demanded that Bouma "lift the paywall," implying that if the monetization was removed, the mods might be re-shared. Crytek says it respects the gaming community's support, but it must strike a balance between that enthusiasm and securing its copyrights.

Many gamers are wary of developers or publishers who ask developers to stop releasing mods. Take-Two Interactive began systematically removing long-running GTA mods in early 2021, including ones that had been around for almost 15 years. These mods have been credited with keeping the older GTA gaming community active by improving gameplay components and adding graphical enhancements. However, their availability would have put them in direct conflict with the November 11, 2021 release of GTA: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition, which was hampered by graphics and technological difficulties.

Crysis Remastered Trilogy is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.