The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition has been updated on PC, bringing back a highly controversial feature that was implemented by Bethesda in 2015.
Update 1.6.1130 reintroduces the despised paid mods to the game, which can now be found in a new menu that combines the previous Mods and Creations menus.
Bethesda has stated that this update provides an updated way for players to discover, download, and play community-made content. Creations now unites Skyrim’s existing Mods, Creation Club items, and all-new Creations under a single Creations menu.
Creators also have the option to apply to the new Bethesda Game Studios Verified Creator Program. If accepted, they will be able to set their own prices for their mods from a selection of options. More information about the Verified Creator Program can be found here.
However, today’s update has caused issues with SKSE-related mods, resulting in modders having to fix their creations to work with the new version of the game. The update also introduces official Steam Deck support and a few bug fixes. The full patch notes can be found on Bethesda’s official website.
While this isn’t the first time Bethesda has attempted to introduce paid mods for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, previous attempts have been met with significant community backlash. For example, the backlash against a similar feature in Fallout 4’s Creation Club resulted in a lawsuit being filed against Bethesda. It’s likely that the new attempt to sell mods will face similar challenges.
