Modding goes mainstream with ReadyCode: how game developers are embracing UGC

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ReadyCode, a game modding startup based in Warsaw, has secured an additional €400k in seed funding led by ffVC Tech & Gaming. Previously, the company gathered support from SpeedUp VC, which allowed it to build a base product and provide support for the Unity game engine. The new round of funding will be used to pursue customers in the AA / AAA sectors.
 

Modding involves the production of additional game content, such as maps, vehicles, character skins, effects, quests, and behaviors, by enthusiastic members of the game community called modders, rather than game developers. The company's modding technology simplifies the process of implementing modding capabilities and creating mods by players, enabling game developers to boost player engagement and take advantage of this growing trend. ReadyCode integrates with game engines such as Unity / Unreal and mod hosting platforms such as Steam Workshop, Mod.io and Curseforge.

Major announcements around modding capabilities

Recently, Epic Games announced the Unreal Editor for Fortnite as the creation tool for a wider Fortnite universe/multiverse. Unity is seeking to attract moddable games with the announcement of the Unity UGC hosting service. Overwolf, one of the co-investors in ReadyCode, has announced partnerships via the Curseforge platform to host mods, including monetizable mods, for major games like The Sims 4 and the new installment of the Ark series on its platform. Modding is entering the mainstream, and the pace of adoption is accelerating. More platforms for mod hosting, such as mod.io, Fab, and Nexus Mods, emerge to compete with Steam Workshop. However, modding creation tools remain the main challenge for the game developers, and this is the challenge that ReadyCode targets with its modding technology.

Game modding has already proven to be a significant source of revenue for the gaming industry. Roblox, a game based on user-generated content, generated $2.2B in 2022, while Minecraft has 600M+ active players and sells 22M copies annually. Overwolf generated $13.9M in revenue in 2023 and announced royalties paid out to creators and a new fund for community creation.

New level of UGC in games

Gamers want higher-quality modding tools with a low barrier of entry and official support from game developers. ReadyCode aims for the highest tier of modding capability: modding tools built directly into the game itself. With modding editors embedded in the game, players can iterate quickly and test their creations easily.

ReadyCode's platform is designed to work with a wide range of game engines - Unreal, Unity, or even custom AAA game engines - making it an attractive option for studios of all sizes. ReadyCode’s goal is to make modding support easy to implement, something that historically has been a challenge.

In the past, modding tools often originated as a result of players reverse engineering the game. This made modding the domain of hackers and programming enthusiasts. With time, some mods became so popular that they turned into game productions in their own right, e.g., Counter-Strike and Dota. Some game studios chose to encourage modding by releasing complex toolchains around their game engines, such as Bethesda's Creation Engine.

Today, with the massive popularity of Roblox & Minecraft, modding has entered the mainstream. Modding editors can be integrated right into the game, and the line between game modding and consuming game content becomes blurred, encouraging more and more players to join in.

The future of modding capabilities

The future of game modding looks bright, with both indie and AAA game developers recognizing the value of modding. Modding has a positive impact on sales and is a source of organic marketing for game studios, keeping their titles relevant for longer. However, adding modding support to games remains the biggest challenge for the sector, something that ReadyCode aims to solve.

The creator economy is another growth trend in modding. For some people, modding is no longer a hobby. In fact, many professional game developers start their careers as mod creators. Modders contribute tools and building blocks on which others can build even more ambitious content. Modders of some game titles get paid for their contributions, with the annual payouts of some creators reaching $30k from modding Roblox.

"We believe the game mod creator economy can become as big, if not bigger, than the video creator economy," says Julius Kopczewski, ReadyCode co-founder and CTO.

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Useful links:

ReadyCode - official website
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ReadyCode - Discord