StarCraft 2 to include Mod Marketplace

Blizzard has revealed that shortly after the launch of StarCraft 2 it plans to make available a mod marketplace that will allow users to sell their homemade content and campaigns to other users for a profit.

The news comes via Eurogamer, who quizzed Blizzard VP of Design Rob Pardo about the new feature and how exactly it will work. According to Pardo the marketplace will allow mod creators to get "a portion of the revenue" from their mods and missions.

Pardo describes the first planned versions of the marketplace as simply a forum that will host both free and premium maps and mod content, but hopes that the system will evolve beyond that and start to attract the attention of highly-qualified modding teams away from companies like Valve. Pardo mentioned Valve specifically, drawing comparisons to how the Day of Defeat and Counter-Strike mods formed around Half-Life and Steam.

In order to be successful though, Pardo says it will be important for modders to create their own assets for their missions and not just rely on in-built StarCraft ones.

Obviously the main focus for Blizzard is to generate profit from the mod community, as well as adding to the longevity of StarCraft 2, but Blizzard also plans to support the community by adding in achievements and match-making facilities to the most popular mods.

As for why the marketplace will not be available at launch, Pardo says it's simply because Blizzard wants to get the game out as quick as possible. Let us know your thoughts in the forums.