File this under the “rumours and speculation” tab, but with a strong evidence. There has been job listings suggesting that Microsoft is looking into bringing mod support natively on the Xbox Live. Now Windows Central has reported to receive internal documents that suggest that it is indeed in the works.
While mods used to be exclusively associated with PC gaming, consoles have already started to receive mod support, such as the system implemented by Bethesda. Bethesda requires such mods for Fallout 4 and Skyrim Special Edition to be uploaded to their servers for use on Xbox One and PS4. That means each publisher will need to create their own back-end support to make mods work, and of course negotiate with the platform holders to enable this, which Bethesda had some setbacks for the PS4.
What Microsoft is cooking up is to provide this sort of support natively on the console side. Called the Xbox Community Content, the system will enable developers to set what part of the game to be moddable – just textures/skin changes or even tweak numbers within gameplay systems and full-on new content- and have these mods highlight upfront in a section on the Xbox Store, similar to how Steam Workshop has been handling mods. Mods can also be monetised, should the developers allowed so.
The document Windows Central received was dated early this year, which states that the Xbox Community Content will arrive sometime this summer. IGN reached out to Microsoft for their comment, in which they, of course, declined to comment.
Source: Windows Central via IGN