Bethesda decided to drop a bombshell on Oct. 5, Wednesday afternoon that probably not even the company saw coming: Skyrim Special Edition and Fallout 4 will be getting mod support on the PlayStation 4, putting an end to a debacle that began back in June.
It wasn't even a month ago that fans on the PS4 resigned themselves to a mod-less fate after Bethesda announced on its website that mod support wouldn't be coming to the PlayStation 4. According to the developer, Sony refused to approve user mods "the way they should work," where users can do anything they want for either Skyrim Special Edition or Fallout 4.
That time now seems like a distant memory.
"We're excited to announce that mod support is coming to PlayStation 4 for both Skyrim Special Edition and Fallout 4," Bethesda said. "Additionally, we'll also be supporting the new PlayStation 4 Pro with both titles."
So once Skyrim arrives on Oct. 28 and Fallout 4 gets similar treatment on an unannounced date, the worst will be over and we'll finally be able to rest in peace, right? Not quite. There is some fine print:
"We and Sony have worked hard to make this possible. Mods on PlayStation 4 will allow you to modify and create your own content by using our Creation Kit available here. You will not be able to upload external assets with your PlayStation 4 mods, but you will be able to use any assets that come with the game, as most mods do. By creating a Bethesda.net account, you'll be able to browse and try mods right from within the game."
This means that the only mods available to use will be ones that utilize the assets (textures, objects, sounds, etc.) native to Skyrim's northern expanses and Fallout 4's irradiated wastelands. No custom-made stuff.
In other words: we can finally have our delicious cake, but we can't eat it.
That said, we do have a vast array of mods at our fingertips now, but it still means we're missing out on popular mods such as the Pacific Rim power armor and Thomas The Death Engine. Similarly, mods that use a few custom assets here and there will no doubt have to be touched up somewhat before they see the light of day. Fortunately, it looks like the all-important Unofficial Patch for Skyrim and Fallout 4, which greatly enhances the game play for each title, will be all right.
Sure it's a bummer, but some mods are better than no mods, so we'll just have to make do.
