Modding Support of Game Engines

This paper aims at showing how different game engines support modding. To this end, the concepts of modding and game engines alongside their historical evolution are introduced first. Additionally, some well-known game engines and mods are presented, and their unique features are described. Further, the effects of using game engines and those that modding has on games, developers, and players are laid out. Particular focus is placed on the effects on competitive games. These effects include an enhanced lifespan for games and the requirement for more development effort. Finally, the modding-support of selected game engines is illustrated and compared with each other. These engines are the id Tech engine(s), Unreal Engine, the Source engine, and Unity. The paper is then concluded with an outlook on future research possibilities and recommendations to developers.