Steam game disables mods after facing its second Workshop malware outbreak this year
Studio Minus has disabled Steam Workshop support for People Playground in response to a second malware outbreak affecting the game this year. On September 22, the developer announced the action following discovery of a malicious mod described as “especially bad.” The studio subsequently released a new build that prevents mods from running entirely.
Investigation by a Reddit user revealed that the malicious mod was designed to hijack users’ Steam accounts and republish content without authorization. This marks the second security incident to compromise the game’s Workshop ecosystem this year.
The developer stated that Steam Workshop and mod support will only return once “mods are fundamentally safe to run,” a condition the developer acknowledged might never be satisfied. This decision effectively suspends community mod creation and distribution for the sandbox game, which has historically relied on user-generated content to extend gameplay value and maintain community engagement.
The suspension represents a significant shift for People Playground, a game built around player creativity and content modification. The repeated security failures underscore the ongoing challenges platform holders and developers face in securing community-driven content systems against malicious actors.