Game Dev | Almost a decade ago, I wrote an op-ed titled Modders are developers – it’s time to stop treating them differently, which called for a shift in mindset towards a more open and inclusive approach to development. The overriding vision was that users can have a bigger stake in the content creation process within gaming, and creativity can flow from the bottom up. In the last ten years, we’ve seen a tremendous shift play out in precisely that fashion, where major game studios and publishers are actively welcoming and collaborating with creators to improve the longevity and quality of their products.
From the advent of Fortnite UEFN to Rockstar acquiring FiveM, publishers have embraced creators and recognized the untapped benefits UGC brings towards the entire gaming ecosystem. Gamers get more content, in-game creators can earn a living with their mods, and publishers can crowdsource content creation in a safe and financially viable way, particularly as content production costs increase.
