Last week, Bethesda released a significant update to its Steam remasters for Doom and Doom 2. This new edition brings a variety of enhancements, but it has also raised some concerns within the gaming community. The update includes features such as cross-platform online multiplayer, a novel official episode, and a new Boom-compatible engine that allows the use of more than two decades of existing Doom mods.
Exciting New Features
The updated Doom and Doom 2 remasters now offer a cross-platform online multiplayer mode, allowing players from different platforms to engage with each other. Additionally, the introduction of a new official episode presents fresh content for longtime fans. Perhaps most notably, the new Boom-compatible engine provides an innovative in-game mod browser, enabling users to publish and install a vast array of mods directly through the game.
Concerns Over Mod Browser
Despite these exciting advancements, the mod browser’s implementation has stirred controversy. According to reports by RockPaperShotgun, the mod browser allows users to upload any mod they want, and claim authorship without proper verification mechanisms. This lack of moderation could lead to instances where creators’ work is uploaded without their permission, potentially causing a breach of trust.
Historical Context and Community Impact
This issue is not new to Bethesda or ZeniMax. Past incidents, such as the short-lived paid mods experiment on Steam Workshop in 2015 and unauthorized mod uploads for Fallout 4 in 2016, highlight recurring problems with moderation and verification in their mod directories. The modding community is understandably disappointed, given their substantial contributions. Game designer Jean-Paul LeBreton has criticized this oversight, calling it a “massive breach of trust.”While making mods easily accessible on consoles can boost game popularity, ensuring that creators receive appropriate credit is essential for maintaining community trust.
The Road Ahead
The new features in Bethesda’s Doom remasters are undeniably impressive, but the company needs to take immediate steps to address concerns regarding mod security. Moderation and verification tools are crucial for protecting the intellectual property of dedicated creators. Until then, the community’s trust remains in a delicate balance.
