How Does the Steam Workshop Work?

The Steam Workshop is a mod repository for Steam Games. When a developer releases a game on Steam, and that game has mod support, they have the option to tie it into the Steam Workshop. Linking to the Steam Workshop allows creators to upload their mods for a massive built-in audience to enjoy, and it provides regular players with a straightforward and streamlined process for obtaining mods. When you open the Steam Workshop, which is accessible through the Steam Community, it presents you with a list of popular games that have mods available to download. You can also choose to check out featured games, recently updated games, and recently played games. You can also view a list of every game that supports the feature. You can access the Steam Workshop directly from your Steam library. When you click on a game in your library, and that game includes Steam Workshop support, you’ll find a button that links directly to that game’s Steam Workshop page.

Is the Steam Workshop Free?

The Steam Workshop is free to use, and most of the mods and other items that you’ll find in it are also free. Some games also include premium mods that you have to purchase. When you buy one of these mods, a share of your payment goes straight to the person who created the mod.

How to Download Mods From the Steam Workshop

If a game supports Steam Workshop, simply subscribe to it to access its stream of modded content. This process works in lieu of downloading or installing individual items from the Steam Workshop. If you no longer want an item or mod in your game, you can simply unsubscribe and Steam will remove it. Here’s how to obtain mods and other items from the Steam Workshop:

How to Vote on Items in the Steam Workshop

Some games take a different approach, allowing you to vote on user-submitted items in the Steam Workshop. In this arrangement, only the most popular mods get incorporated into the game. Here’s how to vote on items in the Steam Workshop:

Can Anyone Upload to the Steam Workshop?

The Steam Workshop is available to everyone. There are no barriers to entry, other than your skill and imagination, although submitting items requires you to sign an agreement with Valve. Uploading to the Steam Workshop is more complicated than downloading mods, and it’s not done through the Steam client. Every single game that has Steam Workshop support has a separate method for uploading. Some games have a menu option within the game that allows you to upload your mods to the Steam Workshop, and others require you to enter a command line code. Some publishers also provide a utility that’s designed to upload mods for their games to the Steam Workshop. If you’re interested in uploading to the Steam Workshop, check your game to see if it has an option to do so. If it does not, contact the developer or publisher of the game for specific instructions.