BepInEx

In spite of the resounding uproar caused by the company’s controversial and supposedly backtracked decision of introducing retroactive fees for studios, its flagship Unity engine still remains many programmers’ most familiar way of starting their game development journey. Alternatively, those who wish to make adjustments for perfecting an existing project can make use of the BepInEx plugin framework.

Many modern locked-down titles released nowadays lack the extensive replayability factor of their older and indie-based counterparts with custom mod support, due to either licensing and engine-related limitations or concerns regarding the fairness of gameplay alterations in a competitive scenario.

However, since many online multiplayer games can be grueling at times thanks to a badly optimized Skill-Based Matchmaking system or sometimes the lack of one, and storyline-driven titles with a linear design missing enough customization capabilities to make replaying them a viable scenario, offline multiplayer-style games with bots are starting to gain traction for casual players.

One example taking in the footsteps of Valve’s original Half-Life series is Ravenfield, a low-poly Battlefield-inspired spin-off designed from the ground-up with modding support in mind, featuring a comprehensive database in its Steam Workshop listing. While custom content can be easily created for all players to enjoy, the framework at hand provides mod makers with an excellent example of what it can achieve.

Through BepInEx, a talented modder managed to customize core aspects of the game, making it resemble DICE’s Battlefield 2042 by way of changing previously inaccessible elements such as in-game menus, loading screens and soundtracks in an attempt to provide players with a more flexible alternative to the title it takes inspiration from, given Ravenfield’s pre-existing capacity to change soldier factions, weapons and vehicles.

If you ever wanted your favorite Unity game to receive a makeover on its graphical interface or you feel that some of its core functions could use some alterations, BepInEx’s seamless drop-in installation alongside its built-in configuration and logging systems may be the right features for your needs.