Total War: Warhammer 3 mod SFO: Grimhammer 3 deliberately corrupted by creator to block AI reuploads

The creator of SFO: Grimhammer 3, a major overhaul mod for Total War: Warhammer 3, has deliberately corrupted the latest version to stop unauthorized reuploads that use generative AI. Venris, the lead modder, announced the move in a Patreon post spotted by IGN.

"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," Venris wrote. "If this situation continues to escalate, I will make SFO: Grimhammer III private."

The modder emphasized that the project represents nearly ten years of work and is not permitted for reuse without permission, especially for AI-related purposes. Venris closed the statement with "Support modders, not AI" and confirmed the next update will release on Steam Workshop as always, with no plans to paywall the mod.

SFO (Simply Fun Overhaul) mods for the Total War: Warhammer series focus on lore-friendly changes that keep battles entertaining. Grimhammer 3 adjusts combat, battle lengths, and adds new abilities. Its last major update was titled Call of Bretonnia. The mod is primarily distributed through Steam Workshop, while sites like Nexus Mods have recently tightened labeling rules for mods made with generative AI.

Total War: Warhammer 3 itself is slated for a free vampiric update in September alongside the Lords of the End Times DLC, with further project announcements expected in December.