I've been thinking of replaying TES Skyrim on the Switch, both to support the thing early and to play with a different playstyle (I played Skyrim on PC, and I assume playing on a console will be way different, so I'll try to change my usual tactics). But I don't want to grind to the level I reached on PC, so I was planning on using some kind of EXP bonus mod. But will Nintendo allow that? They are pretty weary of user-generated content, and all of the biggest Nintendo mods have been added through external ways, and not like mods on PC. With the Switch having Skyrim and possibly BotW as two interesting games to mod, will Nintendo allow mods in any way, or will stop them from coming to the Switch?

That's actually a really good question. Gut reaction is no. Not because of policy, but design. The advantage of cartridges are no spinning medium (good for mobility) and you can play from the card without having to fiddle with installs (convenient for consumers). The disadvantage is...the game isn't installed. And they can't make the cards openly writable. That puts the kibosh on mods right there. Well...mods done the traditional way. A work around may be possible, but they would have to collab with Bethesda to get it done, making mods work like the data packs for XCX. So probably no, technically still possible.

I don't see this as a massive loss though. For all the noise Xbox made about console mods and all the hullabaloo made by Bethesda, console modding is extremely limited. Limited allocated space, no .esm files, no messing with anything deep in the engine so no SKSE. There can still be neat stuff but it's not nearly enoug, imo, to make any version "definitive" on its own. I'm sure some will really enjoy the bits and bobs that come along, but it's honestly not a big deal in my eyes.

Oh, and a game habing modding potential doesn't mean modding is possible regardless of platform. A lot of games have modding potential but unless devs left the right doors open, it's impossible on any real scale. And unless they release modeing tools, it is highly impractical.

Well, Nintendo have always been against user generated content, until Mario Maker at least, they've never been big fans. And UGC is something modern and widespread in the market, which means that it's unlikely they'll go for it in any meaningful way...

On a more serious note; they need to have mods, mods have helped PC games immensely to sell and they're becoming more and more implemented in PS4 and One titles as well. Mods can add so much value to a game, Nintendo seem to have been worried previously about poor quality content being made available but you need to take the good with the bad, there are shit mods for most modded games, but these are easily avoided and balanced out by the truly good ones.

Hell no, not a chance. This is Nintendo we're talking about.

Implemented level editors such as Mario Maker is the best you can hope for.

No, no way what so ever. We're not even sure the Switch will be region free and that we will be able to transfer our digital games from Wii U to Switch. Nintendo have never really been user friendly in that sense, and I highly doubt they'll start now.

Sure they'll allow mods!




If you're talking about forum mods wanting to play their games. Otherwise, forget about it.

By their look, they dont seem to be mod freindly.

Nintendo? doubt it.

1) it can break a console..... mods have a habbit of doing that.
2) it varies the performance & experiance.
3) it can lead to by pass cracks to get around DRM, and allow homebrew and piracy.

^ Nintendo will make a big deal out of all 3 of these things, and go Nope, no mods.

No, unless something has changed a lot.

Mummelmann said: Well, Nintendo have always been against user generated content, until Mario Maker at least, they've never been big fans. And UGC is something modern and widespread in the market, which means that it's unlikely they'll go for it in any meaningful way... On a more serious note; they need to have mods, mods have helped PC games immensely to sell and they're becoming more and more implemented in PS4 and One titles as well. Mods can add so much value to a game, Nintendo seem to have been worried previously about poor quality content being made available but you need to take the good with the bad, there are shit mods for most modded games, but these are easily avoided and balanced out by the truly good ones.

As a massive supporter of mods and someone familiar with the Bethesda modding scene for almost a decade, I seriously, seriously doubt they *need* them.  The number of pro-modding companies of any note is astoundingly small.  Like CD Projekt Red and Bethesda are the only ones that come to mind.  A handful tolerate it, grudgingly.  But only Bethesda has lifted a finger to bring them to consoles.  And console modding is currently and likely to always be limited.  Especially on the PS4, where the "no original assets" rule whipes out a good 75% of the good mods in one swift stroke.  And on Xbone numerous other limitations make sure modding on consoles is some 10 to 12 years *behind* modding on PC.  So no, right now mods are not a "need" by any stretch.  It would be nice, but I don't think their absence would ruffle many feathers.