Total War: Warhammer 3 modder sabotages own work to stop AI

The creator of one of Total War: Warhammer 3's most popular mods took the drastic step of intentionally breaking their own work to combat unauthorized AI-generated copies being uploaded to Steam Workshop.

SFO Grimhammer 3, a comprehensive overhaul mod, became incompatible with the game's version 9.0 update following the release of the Lords of the End Times expansion. While the mod's creator, Venris, worked on updating the mod for compatibility, they discovered that others were using AI tools to adapt the mod themselves and reupload it under different names—often accompanied by AI-generated artwork.

Frustrated by the repeated theft and misuse of their work, Venris announced on Patreon that they had deliberately corrupted the mod to render these unauthorized AI-created variants non-functional. The creator emphasized that the mod represented nearly a decade of dedicated work and community passion, and stated they would not tolerate unauthorized use, particularly for AI-related purposes. Venris warned that if the situation continued to escalate, they would make SFO Grimhammer 3 entirely private. The post concluded with a plea to "Support modders, not AI" and a reminder that SFO mods would remain free for everyone as long as Venris maintained them.

The sabotage tactic appears to have succeeded in drawing attention to a broader problem affecting the modding community. Similar issues plague other popular games, with mods for titles like Skyrim and Project Zomboid increasingly flooded with AI-generated content that frequently fails to work as advertised. User comments on these mods consistently express frustration with non-functional AI submissions.

Following the community response and discussion surrounding the incident, Venris decided to restore a working version of SFO Grimhammer 3 compatible with game version 8.1.1 on Steam. In a follow-up Patreon post, the creator acknowledged that while their actions would not permanently stop bad actors from appropriating modders' work, the controversy had successfully raised awareness about the AI flooding of Steam Workshop. Venris expressed hope that Valve and other stakeholders would take action to address the problem.

Regarding the role of AI in modding more broadly, Venris argued that artificial intelligence should function as a supportive tool for modders rather than a replacement for human creativity and effort. The creator's stance reflects growing concerns within the modding community about the unchecked use of AI-generated content on distribution platforms.