Microsoft protects its multi-billion-dollar IP from a fan-made, free-to-play Halo mod for Counter-Strike 2 in a DMCA takedown — “Make sure to give your thanks!”

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Just last month, we reported on ‘Project Misriah,’ a mod for Counter-Strike 2 that recreated classic Halo multiplayer using elements like weapons, sounds, character models, and movement from Halo 3. The mod, which was initially available on Steam, has now been flagged by Tracer AI – an AI system that sends takedown requests on behalf of copyright holders (according to PC Gamer).

This notice concerns modifications available on the Steam Workshop for Counter-Strike 2. The Workshop allows users to easily find and download free modifications. However, some content within these modifications was taken from the game Halo 3 without permission, which violates Valve’s policies. Valve states that using copyrighted Halo content in a non-Halo related workshop infringes on their rights.

It’s no surprise the community is upset about this, and most people support Project Misriah. However, this situation was pretty much expected. The legal agreement for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, dating back several years, actually addresses the issue of using assets from other games – even those owned by Microsoft – and warns that doing so rarely has a good outcome.

Should non-profit mods be subject to DMCA?

Mods created by fans sometimes operate in a legal gray area, but generally avoid problems if they’re inspired by other games rather than directly copying them. Recently, people on X (formerly Twitter) noticed maps in Halo Infinite that look a lot like Mario Kart tracks. However, these maps were built using existing game assets, which seems to keep them safe from legal issues, even from companies known for strict copyright enforcement like Nintendo.

What people think and what the law says often don’t align, and it’s likely that free fan-made content, like crossovers, doesn’t actually hurt sales for the companies involved. I especially enjoy mods for older Grand Theft Auto games, and many modders try to stay under the radar to avoid legal issues with companies like Take Two.

Even when fans only share content from the same game or series, they can still face legal trouble. Modders often jokingly complain about large companies targeting them, but this happens repeatedly – and now it’s affecting Project Misriah.

With the campaign mode lacking content and *Halo Infinite* not receiving updates, it’s unclear what game 343 Industries is trying to compete with.

@messmerflame148 on X

As a researcher following modding communities, I’m starting to think publishers won’t be so lenient even with substantial effort to legally differentiate recreated content. For example, if modders painstakingly rebuilt every model, sound, and map from Halo 3, but with slight changes to avoid direct copyright infringement, I suspect the publishers would still take action. It’s a good reminder to back up your favorite mods – just because a game isn’t actively updated doesn’t mean its intellectual property is unprotected. Those legal teams are always watching!

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2025-12-15 16:09