Using mods to customize your gaming experience is one of the most interesting benefits of playing on PC, but owners of Tekken 8 may need to proceed with caution when attempting to use and share them currently.
Multiple modders and creators are reporting they’ve been hit with copyright strikes on YouTube videos featuring Tekken 8 mods as well as some ways to download said mods removed too.
Users including modder UMIN and I AM OP plus potentially a few others shared posts online seemingly confirming their Tekken videos had been taken down in one of the most severe fashions.
These are not Content ID or copyright claims. They appear to be getting hit with full on copyright strikes, which means if you get three of them in a short period of time, your YouTube account can be permanently banned.
hellyea…
Namco started banning all mod videos.
Everyone had fun so far.I might run away to Patreon, but for now
I’m going to take a break and see what happens.If you want my past mods, please come to my discord server : pic.twitter.com/6SnAaMtcfb
— UMIN(우민) (@_UMIN__) March 26, 2024
That’s reportedly exactly what happened to UMIN, whose channel is now at risk of termination unless they submit a counter notification through YouTube or receive a retraction despite claiming they made all of their mod videos private after receiving two warnings.
Actions like this may not even be limited to videos where the mods are the focus, as I AM OP claims their video showcasing Jin’s special story transformation outside of the mode (that apparently didn’t use any mods) also got hit.
We spoke with one impacted modder who told us they stopped making costume mods from older Tekken games to not step on the toes of Bandai Namco with the Tekken Shop, but it was their original models that got hit with the strikes.
Just checked, I also got hit for a mod compilation and a boss move set showcase (this isn’t even a mod and doesn’t have any download links)
I wonder if they will copyright strike any gameplay videos that has mods or visual changes now? pic.twitter.com/V2rJmEGLgw— IAMOP (@_IAMOP) March 26, 2024
Most of them were said to contain download links to said mods though I AM OP claims his Jin video didn’t include any links.
Beyond that, the creator also claims some of their Google Drive links / pages containing mods have been removed from being publicly accessed as well though we’re not sure of the exact details on that.
We were shown these copyright takedowns were apparently not issued by Bandai Namco directly, but rather something called the Association of Copyright for Computer Software.
From doing a little more digging, the ACCS appears to be a company based in Japan that can be hired to help protect and defend another’s copyrights / IP online.
There are a couple of reports from the past as recent as last year that the ACCS was issuing copyright takedowns on soundtrack videos for Tekken 7 and Armored Core 6 on YouTube as well.
Okay, My channel will be deleted in April.
Thank you Bamco.They banned the unpublished video at least three hours ago. Thanks to them, my channel will be deleted in April.
Goodbye Youtube… pic.twitter.com/b50hCEF625
— UMIN(우민) (@_UMIN__) March 26, 2024
We do not have direct confirmation that the ACCS is doing this on behalf of Bandai Namco, but it does appear to be the most likely scenario at this point.
As to why this is happening now, we also don’t really know that either, but some are postulating it could be a measure to try and reduce what Bamco may feel as competition to their official DLC costumes (or targeting people who may be making money from mods) — though again, nothing is confirmed.
We haven’t witnessed any reports of Tekken 8 users being banned or directly punished for simply downloading or using mods in the game, so we suggest that players should probably just avoid posting videos or pictures about them online.
This is of course also pushing other creators to preemptively remove or stop making videos with Tekken mods for the foreseeable future while some say they may quite making mods for the game all together.
Bandai Namco start striking Tekken 8 Mods video on YT, my channel hasn’t affected yet, but I will stop making mods related video from now on, just to be safe.
— Hi! Buff Gigas Please? (@BuffGigas) March 26, 2024
It’s unclear why some videos and content is being targeted over others, especially when those containing adult content are immediately still available on YouTube.
You may remember a similar scenario from last year when Capcom was reportedly taking down mod videos for Monster Hunter and Street Fighter 6 after the company stated it viewed mods the same as cheating.
There’s never really been confirmation or resolution for that either.
Japanese copyright law is a bit more draconian compared to what it is in places like the United States, so rights / IP holders can have almost total control over how their products are presented online if they truly wish without recourse like fair use.
Currently, websites like TekkenMods still appear to be functioning normally with downloads available for costumes we’ve tried, so that seems to be fine for the time being.
We’ll continue monitoring the situation as it unfolds and provide updates if / when we have them.
EventHubs reached out to Bandai Namco for clarification or more information on the matter, but have not received a response as of the time of reporting.