Bethesda has established a reputation for collaborating with community modders to enhance its games, and fans are curious if this mod-friendly approach will continue with Starfield, its first new IP in over 25 years. Fortunately, Todd Howard, the game's director, already addressed this concern in 2021, reassuring players. However, due to the secrecy surrounding modding features in the game, there are still unanswered questions that might concern gamers. This guide aims to clarify Starfield's official mod support and how it will function.
Is There Mod Support in Starfield?
Bethesda's vice president of global marketing, Pete Hines, confirmed that Starfield will include mod support. However, the official modding kits will be available after the game's September launch.
During his Gamescom appearance, Hines announced Bethesda's plans to embrace mods for Starfield, stating, "Yes, there's going to be mods; we're going to release the creation kit [for Starfield]. But it's post-launch." He reiterated this in an interview with Vandal, affirming that mod support will be available for both PC and console.
How Will Modding Work in Starfield
Starfield's official mod support will follow a similar structure to that of Skyrim and Fallout 4. Modders and creators will develop content with the game's official modding kit. Once they receive Bethesda's approval and complete the localization process, they will likely be able to release their creations into the game.
It's unclear whether Starfield will feature a Creation Club where modders are compensated for their contributions. However, given Pete Hines' comparison of the game's modding system to that of the Elder Scrolls series, it is reasonable to anticipate an official modding community for Starfield.
Will Starfield Mods Be Free?
Given that Bethesda consistently implements microtransactions in its games, Starfield is likely to feature paid mods. Players may not necessarily have to use real money to purchase these modifications, but they might need to get them with in-game credits, often obtained through actual transactions.
Where to Look for Starfield Mods?
For Bethesda-approved mods, Starfield players should search in-game marketplaces. But the best places to find community-created mods are the “Starfield Mods” subreddit (r/starfieldmods) and the Nexus Mods website.
Currently, Starfield has about 20 unofficial mods that alter features such as FOV and UI. However, the most notable modification is the upscaler, which replaces FSR2 with DLSS or XeSS.
The following are some of the most anticipated Starfield mods:
- Land vehicles. Since the game allows no mounts or rides on planets, players want modders to add rovers as soon as possible.
- New planets. Although Starfield features over 1,000 planets, gamers want more interesting options and thematic worlds.
- Quality of life features. As with all massive RPGs, Starfield has UI and UX issues fans want to eliminate through mods.
Starfield will be available for PC and Xbox Series X|S on September 6, 2023.