Paid Mods (short for Purchasable Modifications, also called Paid Creations)[1] were a short-lived feature on the Steam Workshop introduced by Bethesda Softworks and Valve Corporation for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, several years prior to the introduction of the Verified Creations system. Using a "pay what you want" system, the mods could be purchased within a range of multiple prices, with proceeds being split amongst Bethesda (45%), Valve (30%), and the mod creators (25%). They were active from April 24th to 27th in 2015, initially starting with 19 mods, but were removed after receiving negative backlash from the community, due both to the relatively small cut for modders and the monetization of a well-established, open, and free modding community.[2] All payments relating to the feature were later refunded, and the mods were removed from the Workshop, though those who had already purchased them were allowed to keep the mods.[3][4]
A somewhat similar system called the Creation Club was announced at E3 2017, though Bethesda stated that they would not be paid mods, and free mods would still remain untouched.[5]
In December 2023, the Creation Club was replaced by a Verified Creations program which effectively re-introduces paid mods for Skyrim Special Edition via an in-game microtransactions menu. This remains controversial, with community members citing various concerns around compatibility, interoperability, and ethics.[6]
ListEdit
| Mod | Author | Description | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arissa - The Wandering Rogue | Chesko | |||
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Art of the Catch - Animated Fishing | Chesko | ||
| Blazing Ringsword | Sparkwire | There was a Jarl once who would lead his Nord brothers into battle with a sword in one hand and a fireball spell in the other. When he lost an arm in battle he had the Blazing Ringsword created to commemorate his loss. | ||
| Blind Raven | RadLyte | |||
| Butterfly Sword | T_Vidotto | Sword mod based off of Dota 2 | ||
| Castle Volkihar Rebuilt | Arthmoor | A mod to allow the player to clean up the debris and rebuild Castle Volkihar to its former glory. The North Tower is also converted into a player home with safe storage. After the Dawnguard quest line is over, have you ever wondered why nobody bothers to rebuild Castle Volkihar? Harkon may have been an obsessive lazy vampire, but that doesn't mean you need to be! Now you can rebuild the castle as you see fit, whether you're a vampire lord yourself and just want the stinking mess cleaned up, or a member of the Dawnguard seeking to expand into a new base and occupy some new territory. At several locations throughout the Main Hall, Volkihar Ruins, Volkihar Courtyard, the Undercroft, and the docks behind the castle will be rubble piles or debris columns you can use to clean up the area around them. You'll need a pickaxe to do so, but that's it. After that all you need is the patience to see things through. If you are playing as a vampire, your existing vampire minions will continue to provide their normal functions, just in a much cleaner environment. After all, what are we? Vampires or slovenly trolls? To clear the path to the Courtyard, speak to Garen Marethi as usual. If you're playing as the Dawnguard, cleaning up rooms in the main guildhall area will bring in new Dawnguard members to man the stations that the vampires used to. The blacksmith, apothecary, and vendor will offer services appropriate to Dawnguard members. Ownership of the various castle cells will also be marked properly so you won't get accused of stealing the stuff you fought so hard to take. As a small added bonus, Fort Dawnguard will get cleaned up properly too. No more cobwebs lurking about! If playing as the Dawnguard, Serana can now be directed to move into the castle and use her cleaned up room by lighting the candle on the corner of her nightstand (the one with the cloth mat). When the flames are lit, she will stay at the castle when dismissed. If they are out, she will stay at Fort Dawnguard. This candle will be lit permanently if playing for the vampires to indicate she stays there when dismissed. As an added bonus, she will make full use of the entire cell in either location, instead of just being narrowly restricted to the main hall areas. Valerica's Study and the hallway outside that leads down to the secret fireplace passage will clean up when you go to the Soul Cairn to tell her Harkon is dead. Best to let the senior vampire handle her own affairs :) Clearing the North Tower attached to the Courtyard provides a player home with safe storage, 3 mannequins, some weapon racks, 3 bookshelves, and a place to sleep too. Be aware though that the North Tower is the ONLY room you can clear out where storage is safe. |
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| Firelink Implements | Sparkwire, Vermilion Wlad | Heavy armor and even heavier greatsword! There's a new chest by the Lady Stone containing the equipment. We might do a quest and add lighter equipment later on. |
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| Gifts of Akatosh | Corvalho | One shall not call themselves Dovahkiin until they have learnt a shout, slayed a dragon, fought hordes of bandits, saved cities, shouted a troll off a cliff, placed carefully a bucket on top of the head of a merchant... aaand got himself this mighty set of items blessed by Akatosh himself. | ||
| iNeed - Food, Water and Sleep | isoku | |||
| Lambda Locator | Jimo | There's a researcher located in Nightgate Inn who has lost a very important research specimen. Who stole it, and more importantly, why? Lambda Locator is a very short two step story quest inspired by the game Half-Life. The quest includes custom voice acting, and on completion of the quest you are rewarded with a story book and the Crowbar, Gordon Freeman's weapon of choice. This submission was explicitly given permission to use Valve's intellectual property. Interested in making your own quest? Read my blog post to find out more about my experience. |
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| Midas Magic Gold Edition | xilverbulet | The return of the Original Spell Mod for Oblivion and Skyrim. Midas Magic adds 80 new and unique spells with custom graphics and effects. It adds beam, spray and projectile attacks and as summonable player house. And much more. | ||
| Purity | Laast | Purity is a complete graphics overhaul for Skyrim's exteriors. It gives to TES5 the visual and the beauty that this great game deserves. From impressive sunsets to scary nights; from icy blizzards to violent storms, get ready for a brand new level of immersion ...and contemplation! |
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| Sange Sword | T_Vidotto | |||
| Scrib Crusher | Sparkwire | Once used to destroy a migratory Kwama infestation, this cheap but reliable warhammer is legendary for it's ability to crush giant bugs and just about anything else that is annoying you. | ||
| The Shadow Scale Set | Sebastian | Like any respectable assassin, the Shadowscales follow the Five Tenets, lest they incur the wrath of Sithis. Though the group has long been defunct, pieces of them remain - buried, hidden from the light, and scattered throughout the land... |
Ported to the Workshop by its mod creator | |
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Shezrie's Bleakden Town | Shezrie | ||
| The Watcher Staff | Jeremy Klein | |||
| Wet and Cold | isoku | |||
| Yasha Sword | T_Vidotto | |||