It doesn't matter if "dark matter is just a hardcoded variable or a hotfix to an existing problem" -- all physics cares about is building a theory of dark matte

It doesn't matter if "dark matter is just a hardcoded variable or a hotfix to an existing problem" -- all physics cares about is building a theory of dark matter that can make effective predictions. If a "theory of a simulated universe" can make concrete, testable predictions, then it's a physical theory. If not, it's more of a philosophical theory.