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[[Steam (service)|Steam]], a video game digital distribution service created by [[Valve Corporation]], was specifically designed for the proliferation of successful, stand-alone mods.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web |last=Au |first=Wagner James |date=2002-04-16 |title=Triumph of the mod |url=https://www.salon.com/2002/04/16/modding/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ogshare&utm_content=og |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=Salon.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The platform offered a US$995 licensing fee plus [[Royalty payment|royalty]] for modders to distribute their games.<ref name="auto3" /> With a beta release in 2002,<ref name="steam-announced">{{cite web |date=March 22, 2002 |title=GDC 2002: Valve unveils Steam |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-2002-valve-unveils-steam/1100-2857298/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717003347/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-2002-valve-unveils-steam/1100-2857298/ |archive-date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=September 7, 2006 |work=[[GameSpot]].com}}</ref> Steam included a retail-version of [[Day of Defeat|''Day of Defeat'']], originally a [[Video game modding#Total conversion|total conversion]] mod for Valve's ''Half-Life'' whose rights were purchased by the company.<ref name=":23" /><ref name="GameSpot Valve & Activision">{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=April 4, 2003 |title=Valve signs with Activision, exclusive Day of Defeat screens |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-signs-with-activision-exclusive-day-of-defeat-screens/1100-6024608/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225235043/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-signs-with-activision-exclusive-day-of-defeat-screens/1100-6024608/ |archive-date=February 25, 2014 |access-date=February 25, 2014 |work=GameSpot}}</ref> [[Gabe Newell]], the founder of Valve, noted that his perception of video games shifted from viewing them as entertainment to embracing them as "productivity platforms".<ref>{{cite web |last=Boudreau |first=Ian |date=March 29, 2020 |title=Gabe Newell tried gold farming in World of Warcraft to test a theory about games |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/world-of-warcraft/gaben-gold-farming |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329144743/https://www.pcgamesn.com/world-of-warcraft/gaben-gold-farming |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |access-date=March 29, 2020 |work=[[PCGamesN]]}}</ref> Since then, the client has become one of the largest online marketplaces for games. The platform introduced full support for finding and playing mods for Valve's [[Team Fortress 2|''Team Fortress 2'']],<ref name=":19" /> a game that itself originated as a mod for [[Quake (video game)|''Quake'']].<ref name="gamespot 1998-06-01">{{Cite web |last=Dunkin, Alan |date=June 1, 1998 |title=''Team Fortress'' Full Speed Ahead |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-full-speed-ahead/1100-2463316/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323205856/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-fortress-full-speed-ahead/1100-2463316/ |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2006 |work=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> The [[Steam Workshop]], introduced to the platform in 2012, allows players to mod Steam-hosted games directly within the interface.<ref name=":19">{{Cite journal |last=Rosen |first=Zvi S. |date=December 6, 2018 |title=Man, Mod, and Law: Revisiting The Law of Computer Game Modifications |url=https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3309904 |url-status=live |journal=IDEA: The IP Law Review |language=en |volume=59 |issue=1 |ssrn=3309904 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250319204545/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3309904 |archive-date=2025-03-19 |access-date=2025-08-01 |via=SSRN}}</ref>
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In April 2015, Valve introduced paid mods to the [[Steam Workshop]] as an update to the free system already in place. Mod authors received a cut of the profits from mods sold through Steam, with the percentage being determined individually by game developers. The first game to utilize the feature was Bethesda's ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim]],''<ref>{{cite web |last=Kamen |first=Matt |date=24 April 2015 |title=Skyrim is first game to allow paid game mods on Steam |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-04/24/steam-workshop-paid-mods |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505192753/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-04/24/steam-workshop-paid-mods |archive-date=5 May 2015 |access-date=May 4, 2015 |work=[[Wired.com]]}}</ref> with mod authors receiving 25 percent of profit from their sales while the remainder was split between Valve and Bethesda.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Machkovech |first=Sam |date=2015-04-23 |title=Steam Workshop lets users sell mods, but only shares 25 percent of revenue |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/04/steam-workshop-lets-users-sell-mods-but-only-shares-25-percent-of-revenue/ |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> [[Gabe Newell]], the head of Valve, expressed that paid mods would "increase the investment in quality modding", while not infringing on the need for freely distributed mods.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Orland |first=Kyle |date=2015-04-27 |title=Gabe Newell addresses controversy over paid Steam mods |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/04/gabe-newell-addresses-controversy-over-paid-steam-mods/ |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}}</ref> The Workshop update resulted in backlash from the modding community, with complaints including having to pay for previously free mods;<ref name=":19" /> overpriced mods; content that had been published without its creator's consent; and concerns over mods that contained third-party copyrighted content (i.e., material that neither Valve nor the mod creator owned).<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Mark Warren Senior Staff |date=2024-10-30 |title=Nexus Mods updates its stance on paid mods for the first time since Bethesda's latest attempt at them, says it believes "modding should be a pursuit of passion first and foremost" |url=https://www.vg247.com/nexus-mods-updates-policy-on-paid-mods-post-verified-creators |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=VG247 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Stanton |first=Rich |date=2024-10-30 |title=World's biggest modding site announces new paid mods policies, with caveats—'as long as it isn't to the detriment of the free modding ecosystem' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/worlds-biggest-modding-site-announces-new-paid-mods-policies-with-caveats-as-long-as-it-isnt-to-the-detriment-of-the-free-modding-ecosystem/ |access-date=2025-07-27 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite magazine |last=Moore |first=Bo |title=Valve Nixes Paid Skyrim Mods After Huge Backlash |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/04/steam-skyrim-paid-mods/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220041408/https://www.wired.com/2015/04/steam-skyrim-paid-mods/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=2025-07-27 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> Paid mod authors were also the target of backlash, with some receiving death threats and harassing comments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hillier |first=Brenna |date=2015-04-28 |title=Paid mods creator received "death threats, attacks and hateful comments" |url=https://www.vg247.com/paid-mods-creator-received-death-threats-steam-workshop-skyrim |access-date=2025-07-27 |website=VG247 |language=en}}</ref> A [[Change.org]] petition was launched to remove the feature, garnering over 130,000 signatures.<ref name=":7" /> A week after the feature's announcement, Valve discontinued it entirely and agreed to refund those who purchased mods through the system.<ref>{{cite web |last=Prescott |first=Shaun |date=April 27, 2015 |title=Valve has removed paid mods functionality from Steam Workshop |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-has-removed-paid-mods-functionality-from-steam-workshop/ |access-date=May 4, 2015 |work=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 28, 2015 |title=Removing Payment Feature From Skyrim Workshop |url=http://steamcommunity.com/games/SteamWorkshop/announcements/detail/208632365253244218 |access-date=May 4, 2015 |work=[[Steam (service)|Steam]]}}</ref> The removal itself was criticized by mod developers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |date=April 28, 2015 |title=Some People Are Pissed That Skyrim's Paid Mods Are Gone |url=http://steamed.kotaku.com/some-people-are-pissed-that-skyrims-paid-mods-are-gone-1700837400 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029183110/https://steamed.kotaku.com/some-people-are-pissed-that-skyrims-paid-mods-are-gone-1700837400 |archive-date=2018-10-29 |access-date=May 4, 2015 |work=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref>
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===Overhaul===
An ''overhaul'' mod significantly changes an entire game's graphics and gameplay, usually with the intent to improve on the original, but not going as far as being a completely different experience. This can also include adding revised dialog and music.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}
Examples of overhaul mods include ''Deus Ex: Revision'', which was given permission from its publisher, [[Square Enix]], to release on Steam alongside the original game,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/13/9521011/deus-ex-revision-mod-release-steam|title=A massive overhaul for the original Deus Ex is now available on Steam|last=Robertson|first=Adi|date=2015-10-13|website=The Verge|access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref> and ''GTA 5 Redux'', which improves the original game's textures, adds a new weather system, and adjusts visual effects, the wanted system, weapons, and vehicle handling.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/that-gorgeous-gta-5-graphics-overhaul-mod-is-final/1100-6443721/|title=That Gorgeous GTA 5 Graphics Overhaul Mod Is Finally Available|last=Pereira|first=Chris|date=2016-09-20|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-19}}</ref>
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===Unofficial patch===
An ''[[unofficial patch]]'' is a mod of an existing game that fixes [[Software bug|bugs]] in a game or unlocks content normally inaccessible in official gameplay.
=== Accessibility ===
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===Mod packs===
''Mod packs'' are groups of mods put into one package for download, often with an auto-installer. A mod pack's purpose is to make it easier for the player to install and manage multiple mods.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://glosbe.com/en/en/modpack|title=modpack - definition - English |website=Glosbe |access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=August 2025}} Mod packs may be created with the purpose of making the original game more accessible to new players or to make the game more challenging for veteran players.
==See also==
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