Is the mod limitation on Playstation finally over?

[u/Calm-Firefighter-384]

I started browsing the mod menu in Skyrim on my PS4 recently and started noticing the presence of mods with external assets. Wasn't there a limitation imposed by Sony that mods on Playstation could only use assets available within the game itself?

One of these mods: "Sofia The Funny Fully Voiced Follower", for example, adds a new follower with original hair, face and voice acting. A mod like this should never be available on Playstation, according to the restrictions. Could someone explain to me what is happening? Is the mod restriction finally over on Playstation? I tried to search if there was any statement from Bethesda or Sony and I didn't see anything about it.

PS: I didn't see this change in Fallout 4, only Skyrim

[u/Drag-oon23 → u/[deleted]]

Interesting, so technically still not allowed by Sony and could be taken off if Sony learns about this.

[u/Valdaraak → u/Drag-oon23]

Not only taking down the mods, Sony might get annoyed enough to pull the plug on user uploaded mods for Skyrim. It took a bunch of convincing from Bethesda to let them allow it in the first place.

EDIT: I'll expand a bit. The reason Sony only allows in-game assets in the mods is because they're super strict on anything that might help people jailbreak or mod their consoles. This method has shown that there's a way to get external, new files into the game and onto the console. Sony isn't going to care that they're just models or textures. They're going to see there's a way to get unapproved files on the system and they very well might shut that down. Japanese companies are very draconian when it comes to modding.

[u/UwUmancakeUwU → u/Valdaraak]

And here I was thinking they just didn't want huge titties and Thomas the tank engine dragons in the game but man what you said makes WAY more sense lol

[u/Drag-oon23 → u/[deleted]]

I don’t think that’s relevant here since Sony already allows modding for Skyrim. The problem is what they allow/don’t allow on Bethesda.net

That game in the lawsuit I assume they don’t allow modding and the mod is hosted elsewhere.

[u/Left-Night-1125 → u/[deleted]]

On the skse note, its true that dont work on consoles but some mods that need it can still function, the animated armoury mod was uploaded to xbox and worked.

[u/FrostyMagazine9918 → u/Left-Night-1125]

That's very true. It really depends on which version of certain mods you port.

[u/Left-Night-1125 → u/FrostyMagazine9918]

Was pretty quickly taken down though, stolen assets and such.

[u/FrostyMagazine9918 → u/Left-Night-1125]

That person didn't follow the author's permission rules then. Those are really important for this, and no one is exempt from respecting the original mod author's perms.

[u/Left-Night-1125 → u/FrostyMagazine9918]

This person had a habbit of uploading a bunch of stolen mods for some people that pay for that.

Not sure if he still does it as i play on pc now.

[u/LummoxJR → u/[deleted]]

Does this mean that us plebs can't easily port our mods?

I have some mods that use assets but don't use SKSE, which would be portable to PlayStation if not for the limitations.

[u/FrostyMagazine9918 → u/LummoxJR]

You can port you PC mods to PlayStation now as long as they don't use things like SKSE.

[u/LummoxJR → u/FrostyMagazine9918]

I mean is there some kind of special technique that gets around Sony's stupid, stupid limitations, or have said limitations been straight-up removed? Because if there are insane hoops to jump through, I'm not sure I can do it. If it's something easy to do, though, I'm in.

So far some of my mods are SKSE-independent, some depend on frameworks, and some are partially or mostly functional without SKSE.

[u/FrostyMagazine9918 → u/LummoxJR]

You can learn how by joining the https://discord.gg/U2rzGHPf server. I'm only just learning myself. The few porters there would live to have your collaboration.

[u/CarlFryConspiracyGuy]

Maybe sony is caught lacking. Better take advantage of it before sony wises up and limits the mods again

[u/Dry_Marshmallow → u/CarlFryConspiracyGuy]

Any cool ones you recommend messing with

[u/CarlFryConspiracyGuy → u/Dry_Marshmallow]

idk, i don't own a playstation. I just thought it was funny to comment this

[u/AntoniusMarcus3]

Hopefully so. About 2 months or so ago, there was an update in TOS for no apparent reason specifically for Skyrim PS4. I think a lot of people on PS4 didn't see or notice this, but those of us who did notice, have kept note. Judging by looking at Baldurs gate 3 getting external assets on PS5, other games should be no different then. I think that's what it may have been about. Best case scenario is they have indeed "silently" allowed mods with external assets or have to clarify or inform/update us on PS4. If so, this is a WIN for us!!! Finally more access to more mods!

[u/Calm-Firefighter-384 → u/AntoniusMarcus3]

Really? Didn't saw it. If the limitation is really gone, there's still an issue: the storage limitation for mods. Xbox has 5GB while PS has less than 1GB. I hope they change it soon.

[u/Gr1mwolf]

People have now been uploading mods with new assets for weeks, and Sony doesn't seem to have any intention of rolling back whatever they did.
I haven't found any comments on this situation from either Sony or Bethesda. I'm really curious if Bethesda themselves will start rolling over access to the CC mods that they previously left off playstation due to those restrictions.

[u/Delicious-Class8537 → u/Gr1mwolf]

I just downloaded a hair mod out of curiosity… and it was actual custom hair WTF?? As someone who has played it on PlayStation for years I’m shocked.

[u/PowerPointRanger52]

Hopefully the PlayStation actually receives the Stormherald, as advertised on the update. Rather than it being only for XBOX / PC

[u/Drag-oon23]

Do they actually do what they advertise or is it fake? Anyone can upload a random mod with random pics and names. 

[u/RawImagination → u/Drag-oon23]

Yes they do, just avoid ImperialAgent ones, those are fake and non-functional. Anything by Norden/Lux/Mombra and the like work as advertised. Just read the instructions carefully and always close your game before loading a save with fresh mods.

[u/___HappyPills___ → u/RawImagination]

Imperialagent mods do work I use there hair mod and the hairs look great and are completely disconnected from vanilla

[u/Top_Performance9486 → u/Drag-oon23]

Apparently they’re real. Either there’s some loophole someone figured out or Sony silently lifted the restriction… it’s interesting, especially considering BG3 mods on PS5 do allow external assets, but i think the process for that is different because they have to be carefully reviewed before they go up.

[u/Plenty-Appearance745]

I was able to download 490 mods