Since 2015, Bethesda has attempted to monetize mods through various initiatives, starting with Steam Workshop and evolving over the years into the current Creations program. This program allows verified creators to sell their content in games like Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Starfield, which has sparked debate in the gaming and modding community.
An initiative with problems
Todd Howard, the creative director of Bethesda, commented in a recent interview that the company is “very, very happy” with the performance of the Creations program, both for free and paid content. However, he acknowledged that one of the main challenges is increasing the visibility of paid content so that it reaches a wider audience. “Our problem right now is getting that content to more people because we believe it is very good,” Howard explained.
Despite these statements, the community’s reaction has been mixed. Several modders and fans have expressed their discontent on platforms like Reddit, pointing out that the modding communities that have flourished for years would not exist if paid models were imposed. They also criticize that access to the complete documentation of the Creation Kit, necessary for creating mods, is restricted only to participants of the paid program, which could push creators towards monetization.
In a broader context, Bethesda has announced that Starfield will be coming to PS5, along with additional news. Additionally, Howard confirmed that the development of The Elder Scrolls VI is progressing compared to Starfield, although there is still time until more information is revealed about this highly anticipated installment in its popular RPG saga.
