"Support modders, not AI": Total War: Warhammer 3 mod "deliberately corrupted" by its own creator in protest of AI-infused unauthorised reuploads

The folks behind SFO: Grimhammer 3 aren't playing around

Update: Venris has posted an update to Patreon noting that they've "decided to restore a working version of SFO: Grimhammer 3 for game version 8.1.1 on Steam".

"I know that my actions will not stop those who choose to appropriate the work of other modders, but they have at least helped bring attention to a problem that is currently affecting the Steam Workshop of our beloved game," the modder wrote. "For weeks, the Workshop has been flooded with a wave of modifications created entirely using AI. I sincerely hope that the right people will take action so that we can all continue to share our work without fear of it being taken away by others."

They added that work on the update that'll get SFO: Grimhammer 3 working with Total War: Warhammer 3's recently released Lords of the End Times DLC is "progressing well".

Original story follows:

Cheesed off with unauthorised reuploads of their Total War: Warhammer 3 overhaul which make use of AI, the main modder behind SFO: Grimhammer 3 has opted to purposefully corrupt the mod. The aim is to ensure that the modders maintain more control over where and when the latest version of Grimhammer 3 can be grabbed, with creator Venris threatening to make the mod private if the situation doesn't improve.

"Due to the growing number of unauthorized reuploads of SFO: Grimhammer III, and more importantly, the use of AI in the process, I have deliberately corrupted the mod to prevent it from functioning with such unauthorized uploads," they wrote in a Patreon post spotted by IGN. "If this situation continues to escalate, I will make SFO: Grimhammer III private.

"SFO: Grimhammer is the result of nearly ten years of passion and love for this community and the fantasy world. As such, I do not permit anyone to take my work without permission. Especially not for AI-related purposes. Support modders, not AI. When [the] update [is] ready, it will be released on Steam as always. Nowhere else." Venris closed by making clear they won't be paywalling the mod.

The SFO (Simply Fun Overhaul) mods for the Twar Warhammer series are aimed at injecting more lore-friendliness into the games, but in a manner that prioritises keeping battles entertaining. Grimhammer III accomplishes that via the likes of rejigging combat, battle lengths, and adding the likes of new abilities. It's regularly updated with fresh extras, its last update prior to this latest one being dubbed Call of Bretonnia.

While the SFO team's mods are primarily published via the Steam Workshop, modding sites like Nexus Mods have recently moved to tighten up their labelling of mods made using generative AI. For a more in-depth look at how the use of the tech is changing how mods are made for Skyrim specifically, give my interview with the modders behind Bard Hero and the AI-free bard mod it's based on a read.