In VRChat introduced Easy Anti-Cheat. Users are not happy - it disables all mods

VRChat, a game and social platform in one, is going through hard times. The developers decided to introduce Easy Anti-Cheat, which angered the community. This tool prohibits the use of modifications - one of the main reasons for the popularity of the project.

The introduction of the protection program was announced by the team on July 25. The message states that modified VRChat clients "allow people to bully and harass other gamers”. And even harmless mods interfere with the development and evolution of the project. Easy Anti-Cheat, which is already used in such games as Fortnite, Elden Ring and others, was presented as a solution. If earlier developers turned a blind eye to user-generated content, but now they are going to completely eradicate it from their site.

This news raised a storm of indignation in the community. Mods are an integral part of VRChat: some are added for fun, others, like subtitles for the hearing impaired, aimed at making the game more accessible. Fans are unhappy that the studio rejects gamers' tools without offering alternatives. Not to mention the fact that pure VRChat still has performance and functionality issues.

An annoyed crowd rushed to complain on Discord, Twitter, and other platforms. In addition, players have started downgrading VRChat everywhere they can. Reviews at Steam went from "mostly positive" to "extremely negative." Many have dropped their VRChat Plus subscriptions as well. "The latest update demonstrates how disconnected the developers are from the players," - writes one of the disgruntled.

The studio later responded to gamers' behavior, but did not cancel the use of Easy Anti-Cheat. According to the developers, they understand the indignation of fans, so they intend to completely restructure the work plan. They will focus on adding features that the community itself demands. First and foremost, the team will take care of the accessibility setup.