One of the most popular virtual reality simulation games made a decision that has fans livid. On July 25, 2022, VRChat implemented a harsh measure on mods called Easy Anti Cheat (EAC), an anti-cheat service to prevent malicious users from breaking the rules. Effectually, introducing EAC within VRChat blocks all modified clients, in the hopes of keeping the game safe and secure for its users. This sentiment is not shared with the game’s user base. As noted by PC Gamer, mods within the VRChat community have been heavily used to improve and bring more accessibility to the game in places the base game lacks. Mods for the VRChat community are an integral part to their enjoyment of the game, but despite their protests, the developers have been firm on their stance.
In a blog post responding to the backlash, the VRChat developers elaborated on EAC, stating that “malicious” mods “allow users to attack and harass others, causing a huge amount of moderation issues.” Mods that aren’t inherently malicious against users still prove to be a problem for their team and other users. The developers pointed to occasions where users used mods to steal accounts, private information, and run the risk of users having their computers become part of a larger botnet. Mods that seem non-malicious run the risk of encouraging bad behaviors like ripping and archiving avatars, harassment, or even stalking.
VRChat continued, stating how mods can be a “burden for creators.” The developers have linked back many users issues and bug reports from updates that end up being from mods. The blog post ended with the acknowledgment of why users use these mods in the first place and how they are working to make up for their decision. Currently, the developers stated that they’re working towards implementing many popular features into the base game like a main menu that’s usable when lying down, a portable mirror that you can use to calibrate your full-body tracking and more.
To say that fans were mad would be an understatement. VRChat’s Steam page has been review-bombed leaving with a current rating of overwhelmingly negative. The anger spread over into discord and Twitter, with many fans not shying away from speaking their mind.
The VRChat team seems to be firm on their stance to mods, to them whatever positives users gain from these features don’t out-way the costs. However, it also seems that they are using the intense user feedback as a way to hopefully improve the base game by implementing some popular mods that enable more accessibility. As of right now what those future implementations could look like is still unknown. For more information on FAQ, please visit the FAQ on the developer’s blog post.