Indie studio will give $13,000 to whoever makes the best mod

Usually, mods are independently hosted and created by fans of a certain game, with very little motivation other than either the love of the title or the desire to put a certain element into their adventure. Well, one indie game studio is offering a little more motivation than usual – €12,000 ($13,891) to be exact.

Whether it’s adding in powerful new weapons, additional cosmetics, a complete redo of the protagonist, or just something incredible, like an entirely new game inside the adventure thousands already adore, mods are extremely useful in most games. Sure, you can play it as the studio intended, but mods serve to further your experience and bring a little whimsy or power to your next playthrough.

However, they’re mostly done through the fanbase, with the studio often simply providing a platform for you to access the mods. Well, one indie studio has taken that to a whole new level by introducing a modding competition for Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord War Sails, with a pretty impressive grand prize.

Mount & Blade 2 announces modding competition with €12,000 reward

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord War Sails is a recent expansion for (you guessed it) Mount & Blade 2, and to help promote the new ships, factions, mechanics, and more, developers TaleWorlds Entertainment have revealed a competition where they’ve challenged the community to release the best conversion mods, 3D models, or design scenes for a prize.

According to the competition’s website, the devs have explained: “Naval warfare has arrived to Calradia, and we’re inviting the modding community to shape it. Whether you build conversion mods, craft 3D models, or design scenes, there’s a contest for you.”

TaleWorlds Entertainment

So, essentially, players can submit their best conversion mod, 3D art, and scene design for other fans to vote on, with the winners getting the grand prize.

If you take part in the conversion mod, you could win up to €12,000 ($13,891), with second place gaining €6,000 and third, €3,000. Lastly, if you come anywhere from 4th to 10th, you win 3 €30 Steam Gift Cards.

The 3D art and scene design rewards are a little smaller, coming in at €2,000 for first place, €1,000 for second, and €500 for third. You’ll also get a €30 Steam Gift Card if you come between 4th and 10th, too.

As mentioned, each submission will be voted on by the community, with the winner being announced in January 2027.

It’s not highlighted as to whether the developers will be implementing the designs in their game, but it’s certanly a unique way to persuade fans to create new content around Mount & Blade 2.