Hound13 Studio announced official support for customization modifications for the action role-playing game Dragon Sword: Awakening. The game will integrate the Steam Workshop, but there are strict restrictions. Players can create and use cosmetic mods, interface changes, and some gameplay modifications, but any third-party methods that interfere with game files are not allowed.
Among acceptable mods, developers include custom character skins, changes to textures and colors, individual elements of appearance (such as glasses, capes, and accessories), FOV and interface improvements, as well as modifications that increase game difficulty or add new challenges.
The list of prohibited items is much more extensive. The ban will include cheats, trainers and mods that provide an unfair advantage, unlocking DLC without purchasing, paid modifications, explicit content, use of other people’s intellectual property, and mods that imitate officially sold content. Developers are also prohibited from extracting and distributing original models, textures, sounds, and video games. Unreleased characters, models, or other data, including content discovered through data mining, cannot be used.
Hound13 intends to be particularly strict in suppressing modifications related to circumventing technical limitations. We’re specifically talking about tools that bypass DLC ownership verification, DRM, file integrity protection, and updates. If there are serious violations, the studio may request modifications and be removed from the website or take legal action.
There is also an important limitation to the multiplayer mode. Any active modification will disable the ability to play cooperatively, and this even applies to mods allowed by the Steam Workshop. Co-op only works with completely original game files.
Hound13 does not guarantee the functionality of modifications after updates. Technical support does not cover issues such as crashes, corrupted saves, slow performance, graphics or gameplay errors, blocked progress, or conflicts between mods. The developers recommend that if problems arise, first check to see if the game has been modified.
This rule will officially take effect after the Steam Creative Workshop is launched. The opening date and terms of the updated User Agreement will be announced at a later date.