Questions about community made mods

[StumpRumpel]

Hi. I was wondering if, perhaps when wintermute is finished, is there a possibility for modding tools to some degree? Maybe a level editor, custom item support, ect?

[wilsonaka]

On 3/30/2021 at 9:15 AM, Admin said:

We've previously said that working on a system of mod support is something that is a goal for the team. What we would like to have is a way for modders to create mods, and share them and an easy way for players to install them while knowing that installing a mod will not adversely affect their game, or system. That is something we need to figure out on our end, how we want that system to work and our goals with it.

So we agree that allowing players to mod their own games is a goal, at this point without official mod support we are unable to offer any form of technical support on modded games. Thus installing a mod risks not only breaking your game in some way, but also won't get support from our team to fix it. While there are people who know enough to be able to break their game and fix it on their own, a large percentage of players don't have that sort of technical skill.

Thus we do not support, or promote, existing mods on our channels. People have created mods for The Long Dark, we don't stop them from doing that but we don't allow for them to be promoted here. Also another issue is the game is still under active development, and so we may update the game in some way that breaks existing mods without intending to. This has happened in the past.

So we understand that people are anxious to see mods, but we ask everyone to be patient with us while we work things out.

[piddy3825]

I'm sure you're gonna generate a little  commentary on this issue considering the current disposition of this topic by the Hinterland Team.  
Part of the road map laid out long ago was to eventually promote some community generated content where mods could be implemented that insured proper integration and allowed for technical support.  The project however still seems to be somewhere on the horizon for now. 
Never the less, given the creativity and technical know how by the modding community, there are currently a number of unsanctioned mods available that currently integrate seamlessly and flawlessly bringing those that use them great enjoyment in their gameplay. (at least until the next update...)

I'm sure that most of the current reluctance to open up modding is the fact that Episodes 4 & 5 are still pending.  Or, maybe, just maybe, they are reluctant because they would rather avoid the drama similar to what Bethesda brought upon themselves when they introduced the Creation Club and then started charging users for the privilege to do so.  But when they do, you can imagine we'll get some excellent content.  

As for now, playing with non-sanctioned is not supported, nor promoted but nobody is going to stop you from playing the game your way.  Everybody playing with unsanctioned mods know that updates can affect gameplay adversely and that is risk the player has to take on their own.  That being said, there are some genuinely good mods out there worth checking out now.