Best way to buy DLC for mod support?

[SeranaUser]

Is it likely better to pay $34.99 for the Digital Premium Edition Upgrade on Steam, than $29.99 for the Shattered Space DLC? Or likely worse?

I'm wondering if there is potentially going to be a mod compatibility issue like with Skyrim Legendary vs. SSE, and if there's a clear favorite in terms of modder participation.

[brown66]

Skyrim Legendary Edition is a game made for 32-bit Windows, which was still the norm in 2011. Skyrim SE is a remake of the same game, but now for 64-bit Windows. It is because of this that Skyrim LE mods are not immediately compatible with Skyrim SE and vice versa, without first being converted (when that is possible...).

 

In the case of Starfield this is not a problem, as Windows is not expected to move to a 128-bit operating system in the next few years, something that I don't think even exists yet for common use.

 

That said, the mods for Starfield that exist and those yet to be made, will be compatible with any of the "versions" of Shattered Space that you purchase. One of the advantages of purchasing the Digital Premium Edition Upgrade is that you earn 1000 credits that you can use on paid mods downloaded from Bethesda itself. If you don't plan on using these paid mods, but rather the mods available for free on Nexusmods and on this site, then buy the cheaper version.

Edited September 17, 2024 by brown66

[Uhuru N'Uru]

Mod support is simple "Official BGS content" is ALL just modding assets to us. Essentially release Date priority.

 

Regardless of whether you ever play the DLC, it's assets for mods, more assets more choice.

 

Minimum Support = Base Game "Starfield.ESM" All else is Optional content, but official BGS content will gradually replace what the community designates as a "Base Game".

 

This applies to EVERY game, as time progresses those new releases will get adopted as new base Game, I will use Skyrim & forget the 32-bit to 64-bit thing, it's NOT relevant at all.

Note the dates are the release dates, not always the same as community designation, but the earliest point of acceptance is ALWAYS based on the release of a New "Complete" Edition.

 

2011-11-11 = Skyrim = Skyrim.esm

2013-06-04 = Skyrim Legendary Edition = Skyrim.esm + Dawnguard.esm + Hearthfire.esm + Dragonborn.esm + Update.esm

2016-10-28 = Skyrim Special Edition = SLE + ccQDRSSE001-SurvivalMode.esl

SSE = 2021-11-11 = Skyrim Special Edition = SSE (2016) + ccBGSSSE001-Fish.esm + ccBGSSSE025-AdvDSGS.esm + _ResourcePack.esl + ccBGSSSE037-Curios.esl

SAE = 2021-11-11 = Skyrim Anniversary Edition = SSE + SAE Upgrade

 

This is where we Stand, with the caveat that being part of the base game install is now conditional, though it may change only SLE content (The 3 Original DLC) is "Required", all other BGS content "Creations" or "Creation Club" is still required to install, but OPTIONAL to use.

Enabling survival mode is the obvious example. Mostly this is a community consensus decision, but of course how the game parts get bundled matters the most. Unless a complete Edition exists, as a means of getting the content, it can never be adopted as the base game.

 

I can't see much changing Game Expansions will become the Base Game, seems only one will exist So Starfield + Expansion always required, any cash shop content bundled like SAE must be required install, but optional use, because they are really STAND ALONE console MODS.

Console mods & any walled Garden host like Bethesda.net & Steam Workshop for SLE, must impose limitations on modding, initial SW was (100MB Plugin + BSA) & as for mod requirements & dependencies. (Not in their walled gardens)

Simple fact is modding needs no permissions, approval, or tools from the devs. EA was notoriously hostile to modding even claiming the Frostbite 3 Engine was unmoddabe, now all Frostbite 3 games have mods.

 

With both F4 & SAE now released on GOG, we finally have the Downgrade ideal. A stable base game that will only get New BGS game backporting, because the CASH SHOP is BANNED on GOG, removed FOREVER.

All the upgrade BS I've avoided with my ban on "In-Game Cash Shop". I have no legal way of buying creations. so I have no need to update my SSE/SAE games than I do with all the 32-bit games.

 

The GOG release will NOT get updates for a REMOVED system, there is no point.