Starfield is Bethesda’s latest release to have Creations, an in-game mod store. While it has made it that much easier to download and try out mods, it’s an expensive affair if you’re someone who tends to install a ton of modded content at once.
It wasn’t always like this, however. In an unearthed interview from over 20 years ago, when Morrowind was the latest release from Todd Howard’s studio of choice, engaging in the modding community wasn’t such a pocket-heavy affair.
Bethesda Needs to Take Starfield Back to Its Roots
Currently, you need to use Creation Credits to purchase and install mods in the open-world space RPG.
While the in-game mod store is convenient as a centralized place to go for mods without requiring excessive configuration, having to pay for each and every one can quickly become expensive.
It’s quite restricting, especially compared to free mods where you don’t feel as much pressure to stick with what you have or stay away from it entirely.
The studio wasn’t always looking to charge its players for everything. In a February 2001 interview with Tom Ham on Gamespy.com, Tod Howard talks about a complete Map Editor that was shipped along with Morrowind upon release.
This allowed modders to completely alter the game the way they liked, using tools that were very similar to what the developers leveraged to create it. The mods were bundled in the form of a plug-in, which players could easily install and uninstall at their whim.
No mention of transactions involved; players were encouraged to create and share their plug-ins among members of the community, purely out of the joy that comes with it.
And, Bethesda’s modding community is nothing to scoff at. With the way everything is monetized now, the spirit isn’t the same; at least, from the corporate side.
There are still plenty of websites where talented creators share anything from bug fixes to DLC-sized content additions, all for free.
Elder Scrolls 6 Needs to Show Change on the Studio’s Side
With all of the studio’s blunders being made painfully obvious through its new space RPG and Fallout 76, people desperately need to see it score a win. There are a lot of hopes riding on Elder Scrolls 6, the highly anticipated sequel to Skyrim.
Last teased in 2018 through a vague trailer, many people hope it will capture the charm Skyrim had and improve on everything it felt short in. The wait isn’t even an issue anymore; people just want a good game.
After the Shattered Space DLC is released, hopefully the focus goes back to the medieval RPG franchise. Howard has publicly declared that he might retire after Elder Scrolls 6‘s release. If it truly is his last hurrah, let’s hope it’s a good one.
What do you think about Bethesda’s changing stance on mods, and how would you like it to be handled? Let us know in the comments below!
