Twitch sells CurseForge to Overwolf
Mod management platform will become stand-alone app supported by subscriptions, in-app advertising
Overwolf has acquired Twitch's mod management platform CurseForge for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced today.
The move is an effort to build out Overwolf's own platform for in-game content creators, and is being framed as part of an expansion into the mod scene.
"CurseForge is the embodiment of how fostering a community of creators around games generates value for both players and game developers," Overwolf CEO Uri Marchand said.
"As we move to onboard mods onto our platform, we're positioning Overwolf as the industry standard for building in-game creations."
Overwolf plans to migrate CurseForge from the Twitch client software into its own stand-alone desktop app, which will apparently include in-app ads.
In a FAQ about changes users can expect, Overwolf began the response to "Will the new CurseForge app include adds?" with "It's complicated."
"We want to make modding a legit profession, and we want to find ways for modders to make a living. With 70-80% of ad revenue going to creators and distributed based on mod usage, we want to look into incorporating in-app ads in a way that is not intrusive."
The company said it is considering ways of opting out of advertising, both through a subscription option as well as one that might not require payment.
It also emphasized that ads would not be placed in the games themselves, only in the CurseForge app.
Overwolf plans to pay CurseForge mod authors 70-80% of subscription and ad revenue starting next year.
It has also pledged to increase monthly payments to each author by at least 50% of current levels by 2022 without interfering in other revenue streams they may have.