Dying Light PC Patch Blocks Fan Mods [UPDATED]

[UPDATE] Techland issued a statement to GameSpot on Monday explaining the issue, and noting that it is currently working on another patch that will re-enable modding. The full statement is below.

"With the recent patch (1.2.1) on Steam we blocked cheating to make sure the game's PvP system (Be The Zombie) would not be abused. This, however, had the side-effect of hindering mod-makers from making changes to the game."

"Creating obstacles for modders has never been our intention. We are now working on a quick patch that will re-enable common tweaks while stopping cheating in the game's multiplayer mode."

"At Techland, we have always supported the mod community, and loved seeing how our own game can be changed by the players. A big part of the original Dead Island's success was the passion and creativity of mod-makers from our community. We want the same for Dying Light."

The original story is below.

A new patch for the PC version of recently released open-world zombie game Dying Light restricts fan mods, gamers are reporting. The official 1.2.1 patch notes explain that Dying Light's data files have been changed in an effort to curb cheating, but it appears this measure also blocks user mods.

A handful of popular mods are experiencing problems after the patch, including one which allowed players to disable Dying Light's film grain. This mod was removed in the wake of an anti-piracy claim from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) through the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DCMA).

"Among other things, we can no longer create or edit items for the single-player campaign," one person writes on Reddit.

It's unclear, however, if the DCMA claim comes from Dying Light developer Techland or the game's publisher, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, or both. Warner Bros. is a member of the ESA. It's also possible that there has been a misunderstanding, though Techland has not yet commented publicly on the matter, and we're awaiting a response from the studio about the situation.

Reddit users point out that if Techland is indeed purposefully blocking Dying Light fan mods, it would be a major change of form for the developer. That's because the studio's previous work, Dead Island, fully supported mods. Furthermore, Techland's next game, the hack-and-slash game Hellraid, actually started out as a Dead Island mod itself.

The Dead Island series is published by Deep Silver, which is also a member of the ESA.

Dying Light is a single-player game, and fans are writing that they are especially distressed at the restriction of mods because it lowers the replayability of the game. Indeed, mods are often seen as a way to continue enjoying a game months or even years after release; just ask Skyrim fans.

In other recent Dying Light news, Techland recently reached out to gamers to remind them to download the game's launch-day patch, which, among other things, "introduces various enhancements, changes, and updates of various influence, affecting the gameplay, performance, and many other aspects of our game."

"In essence, when you are playing an unpatched version of Dying Light, you are playing a different game," Techland further explained. This patch is available across all platforms--Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

For more on Dying Light, check out GameSpot's video review above and written review here.