How playing games can teach you about Open Source

How Bethesda’s Modding Scene Gave Games Like Skyrim and Fallout Their Longevity—and What Companies Can Learn from Open Source

Bethesda’s games—The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and the Fallout series—are iconic not only for their immersive worlds but for the thriving modding communities that have grown around them. Mods have given these games a lifespan that most titles can only dream of, continuously refreshing them with new content and improvements. A significant part of this transformation is facilitated by platforms like Nexus Mods, which houses thousands of mods across Bethesda’s titles, showcasing the value of community-driven creativity. These communities echo many principles of open source, offering valuable insights for businesses on the power of openness and collaboration.

Skyrim SE alone on Nexus Mods is hosting 98,000 mods and 5.9 billion downloads of these mods and Bethesda has not released its next major title for this series in over ten years. Truly a community keeping a beloved franchise alive.

How Modding Saved and Extended Bethesda’s Games

Bethesda’s titles are expansive but inevitably release with some issues, like bugs, graphical limitations, or areas that feel unfinished. Enter the modding community: through Nexus Mods, fans have uploaded over 65,000 mods for Skyrim, more than 40,000 for Fallout 4, and thousands more for Oblivion and other Bethesda games. These mods address everything from bug fixes to entirely new content, effectively evolving these games well beyond their initial releases. Key contributions include:

1. Bug Fixes and Game Stabilization: Mods like the Unofficial Skyrim Patch fix hundreds of bugs Bethesda didn’t address, stabilizing the gameplay experience. This dedication from the community turns games with potential issues into polished, enjoyable experiences, akin to community patches in open-source software that resolve critical issues over time.
2. Graphical Enhancements and Quality-of-Life Improvements: Graphic mods, such as Skyrim HD and Fallout 4 HD Overhaul, modernize visuals and enhance environmental details. Nexus Mods is a hub for these graphical upgrades, with downloads in the millions. Like open-source projects adapting with the latest technology, these mods ensure Bethesda’s games remain visually competitive.
3. Expansive Content Additions: Mods like Falskaar for Skyrim introduce entirely new storylines, maps, and hours of gameplay, essentially creating “expansions” that enrich the base game. With the tools provided by Bethesda, modders have crafted content that’s almost on par with official expansions, adding an unmatched depth to these games. Just as open-source projects allow developers to create innovative features, mods offer players a world of fresh content.

Parallels to Open Source

Bethesda’s modding community mirrors many of the open-source movement’s principles, where users drive innovation and contribute to a platform’s sustained growth:

• Open Platforms Empower Users: By providing tools like the Creation Kit, Bethesda has effectively made its games modifiable, similar to how open-source platforms like Linux give developers access to source code. This access is key to nurturing creativity and expanding the platform. It’s similar to how open-source ecosystems empower contributors to customize and enhance projects in ways the original developers might never have envisioned.
• Communities Drive Innovation and Adaptability: Modding platforms like Nexus Mods showcase the innovations of a creative fanbase, with each mod bringing unique features. In the same way, open-source projects flourish as global contributors build new features, resolve issues, and tailor software to specific needs. The diversity of contributions creates adaptability, making platforms like Skyrim and Fallout feel ever-evolving, similar to open-source software’s continuous improvement model.
• Longevity Through Shared Ownership: Through mods, the community has a sense of ownership over Bethesda’s games, which is why titles like Skyrim and Oblivion remain actively played over a decade later. Open-source projects like Apache and Kubernetes also benefit from this shared ownership model, where contributors are invested in the project’s growth and improvement. This commitment to enhancement and preservation results in a platform with exceptional longevity.

What Companies Can Learn from Bethesda’s Modding Community and Open Source

The success of Bethesda’s modding community on Nexus Mods illustrates the power of enabling user contributions, and there are valuable lessons here for businesses across industries:

1. Create Open, Adaptable Platforms: By designing products that users can customize, you give them a stake in your platform’s success. Open APIs, modular design, or integration options make your platform adaptable and extendable. Whether you’re in software, gaming, or other sectors, openness encourages a thriving community that extends a product’s reach and functionality.
2. View Community Contributions as Core Assets: Nexus Mods and Bethesda’s community contributions have become integral to these games' experiences. Similarly, in open-source, community input is invaluable, bringing ideas and enhancements that expand the product’s potential. Companies should encourage and recognize these contributions as essential parts of their ecosystem, driving value for the broader user base.
3. Build Brand Loyalty Through Community Involvement: Allowing users to modify and add to a platform gives them a sense of ownership and loyalty. In open-source, this is seen as contributors stay invested in the project’s long-term success. Bethesda’s fanbase continues to support its games, partly because they feel like co-creators of the worlds they’ve modified. Companies that foster such engagement can build lasting brand loyalty.
4. Empower Contributors with Resources and Support: Nexus Mods and Bethesda’s tools have fostered a supportive environment for modders to learn and contribute. Likewise, companies can support their communities with resources, forums, and documentation, creating a positive environment that attracts newcomers and sustains existing contributors. In turn, this support encourages growth and innovation within the ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

The ongoing success of Bethesda’s modding community on platforms like Nexus Mods illustrates the transformative potential of community-driven contributions. Mods have kept Skyrim, Fallout, and Oblivion alive and relevant, proving that when users are empowered to create, adapt, and innovate, a product can evolve well beyond its original design.

For me, this is why I’m passionate about open source and eager to bring these principles to Cardano. Just as Bethesda’s games thrive because of a committed, creative community, I believe Cardano can foster the same kind of collaborative success. By embracing the open-source ethos, we can create a future for Cardano that is just as dynamic, adaptable, and community-driven.