Modding is frequently celebrated as one of the most remarkable aspects of PC gaming. It breathes life into titles like Skyrim and Minecraft, and many developers—including those from Bethesda and Paradox—recruit modders from their communities to join them as full-time designers.

However, modders often fear their creations may be removed by overly cautious publishers. While many companies are gradually warming up to the vibrant modding scenes surrounding their games, this hasn’t always been the case.

“The industry’s disregard for the mod scene is just silly,” states Ed Stern, a former writer and designer at Splash Damage. “Modding provides a vital pathway for budding developers to acquire skills and gain experience, and it offers the industry a perfect avenue to discover and nurture new talent. Ignoring it is incredibly shortsighted.”
[Translation: Ed Stern reinforces the importance of supporting the mod scene for both developers and the industry.]

Splash Damage has a storied history, having worked on hit franchises like Doom, Wolfenstein, and Quake. Their journey began in the Quake modding community, which enabled them to create projects such as Quake 3 Fortress.

As Stern notes, “Before I joined, Paul Wedgwood assembled Splash Damage from the Q3F mod team, and that id Software-engined multiplayer FPS shooter DNA is present in our work.”

The success of the team’s multiplayer maps captured id Software’s attention, granting them the opportunity to officially contribute to the franchises they once modded.

Their initial freedom to innovate within established IPs left a lasting impression, one that remains surreal to Stern: “We weren’t exactly concerned with high-value commercial IP at that point; it was just a dream to create a genuine Quake game. The chance to help shape the canonical lore of the Strogg and Quake feels incredibly unusual to this day. Id was quite generous with their creative freedom.”

The experiences of Splash Damage highlight a broader truth: engaging with passionate fans who begin developing out of pure enthusiasm ultimately benefits the industry. It’s common for developers to express awe at how knowledgeable modders can be about their beloved games. Supporting them is just common sense.