Everybody hates change.
Free, fan-created modifications is a revered aspect of PC gaming. People love taking something like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and sprucing it up with a collection of mods and add-ons that other people create. But Valve, the company that owns and operates the Steam digital distribution service — is changing how that works. The company just announced it is enabling mod creators to charge for their work on the Steam Workshop. This means that people may have to start paying if modders decide they want reimbursement for their efforts.
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Some people are just confused:
Why on earth would Steam think it's a good idea to make people pay for mods?
— Jon Bell (@serjonsnow) April 23, 2015
Some others have an alternative idea … which is actually already included in this Steam update:
https://twitter.com/Theuaredead/status/591293486852349952
So @steam_games is starting to charge for game mods? I don't like that idea at all. Optional donations I can see, but not charging. #gaming
— Azzric (@Azzric) April 23, 2015
Him and others are concerned about paying for something that might not work.
The thing is I've tried so many poor, game breaking mods over the years and now I have to pay to find that out? @steam_games #gaming
— Azzric (@Azzric) April 23, 2015
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Paying for mods that you're not exactly sure will work for you. That you may not even like too, aight. #Skyrim #Steam
— Insanecyclone (@Inscyc) April 23, 2015
Of course, this ignores that Valve announced you can get your money back for 24 hours if a mod is broken or you hate it.
Still, some people just simply don’t like the idea of this change:
https://twitter.com/TheMrSaturday/status/591293847398907906
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And this person has more of an issue with the price of the mods compared to the full game itself:
https://twitter.com/toob223/status/591294566810128385
And this guy can’t imagine anything more crazy than paying someone for their efforts:
Sorry, but paying for skyrim mods on steam is the most absurd thing i've ever heard of.
— Leo ✘ (@QMEquinox) April 23, 2015
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But not everyone hates the new paid mods. This guy seems to think it’s reasonable:
https://twitter.com/jbu3/status/591293160460046337
And Bryden Easton puts things into perspective:
https://twitter.com/BryEaston/status/591291744785985537
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And, of course, developers like the idea of getting paid for doing work:
Ooo, okay, just seen the paid-for mods stuff on Steam. This is really cool! :D Nice that this can be done now.
— 8bitgoggles@hachyderm.io (@8BitGoggles) April 23, 2015
No, Steam forum poster, charging for mods won't be the death of Valve. Gamers not wanting to pay for development will be the death of games.
— Laralyn McWilliams (@Laralyn) April 23, 2015
And here’s Civilization IV director Soren Johnson on the matter:
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Long-term, being able to sell mods via Steam will be the biggest event in gaming this year: http://t.co/iRxmGV88Ag
— Soren Johnson (@SorenJohnson) April 23, 2015