Abnormality 0004

Abnormality Surname: Playerclip

Risk Level: Hostile

Status Level: Fragmented

Type: Malicious Script

Abnormality #0004, codenamed "Playerclip," is believed to be a malicious script-based anomaly disguised as a mapping utility tool. It masquerades as a developer resource for invisible collision volumes, commonly known in Source Engine terminology as "playerclips."

The abnormality spreads through unauthorized Workshop uploads, obscure GitHub gists, and shady "optimization tools" claiming to reduce map lag. Despite having minimal file sizes and no Lua autoruns, these uploads inject runtime code during map load that modifies the game's collision system.

It is believed to originate from an unknown user, only identified in metadata as :nullID:-an author string that has appeared across multiple unrelated, now-delisted addons.

Typical manifestations include:
Random invisible walls begin to spawn around the map.
Save files are renamed and are edited when loading them in.
Maps are rewritten and corrupted, denying access to the maps.

Playerclip is not centralized. It behaves like a virus, hiding fragments of itself in various systems such as the saving system and through workshop items, most notably duplicates and saves.

Deleting GMod's addon folder does not stop it. Infections reoccur after Steam Cloud syncs content.

Two screenshots of damage caused by 0004, showing a corrupted workshop page.