The fallout from Bethesda’s approach to mods continues as Starfield‘s recent mod controversies echo the unfulfilled promises from Fallout 76. In the 2018 reveal of the latter, Todd Howard promised future mod support and said that the studio was committed to the modding community.
Despite reassurances over the years, official mod support never materialized. And recent statements from have confirmed it won’t happen due to concerns over game integrity and balance.
Howard’s Promise of Mods for Fallout
In 2018, the company revealed Fallout 76, and Todd Howard promised mod support for the game, though he said it would be post-launch.
We love mods. And so we are 100 percent committed to doing that in Fallout 76 as well.
Years passed with little to no progress, and in 2024, Bethesda confirmed that official mod support for 76 “won’t happen.” In a recent interview with Windows Central, the developers finally put the final nail in the coffin.
We’ve never really like, “pushed back” on players who add UI mods and things like that. But any other mods where you would expect to have like a script extender that you often need for single-player games — that won’t happen with Fallout 76.
The disappointment over 76’s mod support contrasts sharply with the game’s recent resurgence. The Fallout TV show’s popularity brought a wave of new players, eager to explore the massively reworked game. Upcoming updates, like the Skyline Valley expansion, promise exciting new content.
The present situation is similar. The introduction of paid mods has not gone down well with the community. The company’s history with paid mods, starting with the controversial Steam Workshop attempt in 2015 and followed by the Creation Club, has always been rocky.
The Ongoing Starfield Mod Monetization Campaign
The recent outcry over paid mods has further fueled the community’s frustration. Players argue that modding should remain a community-driven effort, free from corporate monetization. While the game does have a lot of third-party mods, official support from the developers was something players wanted.
The introduction of paid mods, like the $7 Trackers Alliance mission, has been met with significant backlash, with many players feeling that the company is turning modding into a business opportunity rather than supporting the creative community.
Howard acknowledged the feedback in an interview with YouTuber MrMattyPlays and hinted at potential adjustments to the pricing model for Creations content.
We hear that feedback, too. First of all I’ll say that stuff gets priced based on things that we’ve done before both in Creation Club and then Fallout 76, and we’re always trying to be looking at what else is out there, really make sure we’re giving value to everybody and where we’re not, hey you know, we definitely will adjust.
He emphasized the company’s intent to support both hobbyist and professional modders, aiming to strike a balance between providing monetary rewards and maintaining community goodwill.
The company’s continued push for paid mods has drawn comparisons to its previous missteps. Players fear that the studio’s focus on monetizing mods undermines the community’s efforts and creativity.
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