Steam has introduced a new feature for the Steam Workshop, which allows players to sell their mods for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. More titles will be added to the workshop in the coming weeks.

The system allows modders to list their content and set their price. This has been possible before with Valve titles, such as Team Fortress 2, but Skyrim marks the first time a third party game has been included. It is also the first time an ‘open market’ has been introduced, with Bethesda saying: “It will not be curated by us or Valve. It was essential to us that our fans decide what they want to create, what they want to download, and what they want to charge.”

Valve’s Tom Bui said in a statement: “User generated content is an increasingly significant component of many games, and opening new avenues to help financially support those contributors via Steam Workshop will help drive the level of UGC to new heights.”

In terms of the revenue modders will get, Steam said: “The percentage of Adjusted Gross Revenue that you are entitled to receive will be determined by the developer/publisher of the Application associated with the Workshop to which you have submitted your Contribution.” Skyrim, for example, will see modders rewarded with 25% of their creations’ sales. The full details on revenue sharing can be viewed here.

A full refund policy has been announced for purchased mods, with players allowed to apply for a refund so long as they request a refund within 24 hours of purchasing the item.

Valve will be implementing a way to try and stop people copying others work, and will call on the Steam community. Speaking to PC Gamer, Valve’s Doug Lombardi said: Newly posted items to be sold must first appear as visible to the community without a purchase option before they can be sold.

“This will provide some time for the community to help identify abuse or stolen content and report appropriately. It’s also a time that developers can use to review pending items and decide if any intervention is necessary.”

What are your thoughts on this system?