Valve allows users to sell Steam Workshop content

Valve will open up the Steam Workshop for modders to sell their content.

The Steam marketplace will allow the sale of user-generated content for games, allowing the creators to monetise from their mods. The users will also be able to set their own prices, but this will only work for games that have opted into the scheme.

The first game to allow modders to sell their content through Steam will be Skyrim, more titles will be released in the coming weeks.

Mods, for those that don’t know, are tiny pieces of code that change the way a game plays. For example, there are mods that allow unlimited monies for city building games, or invincible armies, or even things that change animations, NPC behaviour and a host of other things within the game. Most mods are created to enhance the gameplay, modders usually tweak games post-release that fixes bugs within the game. Other mods make the game easier or more difficult. It’s important to note, however, that not all mods work and playing with mods usually means you don’t unlock achievements.

"We think this is a great opportunity to help support the incredible creative work being done by mod makers in the Steam Workshop," Valve's Tom Bui said. "User-generated content is an increasingly significant component of many games, and opening new avenues to help financially support those contributors via Steam Workshop will help drive the level of UGC to new heights."

This is also a great platform for future developers to be found. There are many modders that have ended up in game development (Civilization games are renowned for taking on modern). It’s an excellent and exciting opportunity for developers to scout for talent and for modders to be found.

It’s an exciting prospect for the Middle East region, an area where there isn’t a huge amount of access into the games industry. This will, we hope, highlight the best of our developers allowing them to make some money, and potentially find a more stable path, in development.