The Steam Workshop Paid Modding meme stems from the massive backlash in April 2015 when Valve and Bethesda attempted to introduce a paid modding system for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The community erupted in protest, viewing the move as a betrayal of the open-source spirit of modding and a corporate cash grab. Though the system was retracted within days, it left a lasting mark on internet culture. The meme typically highlights the tension between game developers wanting to monetize community content and players who believe mods should remain free. It is often used to criticize microtransactions, DLC policies, or any perceived corporate overreach within the PC gaming landscape.