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How do I use mods in the Steam version of XCOM 2 for Linux?

There are two ways to install mods: you can either subscribe to mods via the Steam Workshop (this installs the mods automatically), or you can download mods from other sources and install them manually.

Once you have installed a mod, you can enable it by using the Mod Manager. To access the Mod Manager, select the Mod Manager tab on the pre-game Options window (this is the window that appears when you launch the game).

You'll find full instructions on using mods below.

Mod stability and compatibility

The vast majority of mods are made by amateur developers: many mods have not been thoroughly tested, and some may cause crashes or other stability issues.

Many mods are incompatible with each other. Enabling incompatible mods may cause the game to crash. If you plan to enable multiple mods at once, we recommend checking the mods' documentation for information about their compatibility with other mods.

Saved games and mods

It is possible to add mods to a saved game: you can enable mods and load a saved game made before those mods were enabled. However, we recommend enabling any mods you want to use before starting a new game, rather than adding them to an existing game.

It is not possible to remove mods from a saved game: if you save a game while using one or more mods, you must always have those mods enabled while playing that saved game. If you disable any of those mods, you will be unable to load the saved game.

Installing mods via the Steam Workshop

The easiest way to install mods is to subscribe to them via the Steam Workshop. Subscribing to a mod installs it automatically.

To subscribe to a mod:

  1. Open the Steam application.

  2. Select Library.

  3. In the list of games on the left-hand side of the window, highlight XCOM 2.

  4. In the list of links on the right-hand side of the window, select Community Hub.

  5. Select the Workshop tab.

  6. Use the Browse tab in the workshop to search for mods. To subscribe to a mod, click on the Subscribe button (“+” icon) on the mod.


The next time you launch the game, any mods to which you have subscribed will appear in the Mod Manager on the pre-game Options window.

To unsubscribe from a mod:

You can also unsubscribe from mods via the Steam Workshop. To do so:

  1. From the Workshop tab, place your mouse pointer over the Browse tab, then select Subscribed Items from the drop-down menu.

  2. A list of the mods to which you are subscribed will appear. Click on the Unsubscribe button next to a mod to unsubscribe from it.


Once you have unsubscribed from a mod, it will no longer appear in the Mod Manager.

Installing mods that you have downloaded

It's also possible to download mods from sources other than the Steam Workshop. In this case, you'll need to install the mod manually.

To install a mod manually:

  1. Open the Steam application.

  2. Select Library.

  3. In the list of games on the left-hand side of the window, right-click on XCOM 2, then select Properties.

  4. Select the Local Files tab.

  5. Select Browse Local Files….

  6. The “XCOM 2” folder will open. Navigate to share/data/xcomgame/mods. If the “mods” folder does not already exist, you should create it yourself.

  7. Copy the folder of the mod you want to install into the “mods” folder.

  8. From the “XCOM 2” folder, navigate to share/data/xcomgame/config.

  9. Open the defaultmodoptions.ini file in a text editor.

  10. Add a line to the bottom of the file that says:

    ActiveMods="[MOD NAME]"

    …where [MOD NAME] is the name of the mod file you are adding, excluding the file extension. For example, if the mod is called LW_SMGPack.XComMod, you would add the line ActiveMods="LW_SMGPack"

  11. Save the defaultmodoptions.ini file, then close it.


The next time you launch the game, the mod will appear in the Mod Manager on the pre-game Options window.

To uninstall a mod that you've installed manually, you must delete its folder from the “mods” folder. You should also remove the line from the defaultmodoptions.ini file. Once you have deleted a mod, it will no longer appear in the Mod Manager.

Enabling and disabling mods

Once you have installed a mod, either by subscribing to it in the Steam Workshop or by installing it manually, you must enable it using the Mod Manager before it will appear in the game.

To enable a mod:

  1. From the pre-game Options window, select the Mod Manager tab.

  2. The name of the mod will appear on an icon in the Mod Manager. Click on the red Off button next to the name of the mod to switch it to On.

  3. The next time you launch the game, the mod will be enabled.


To disable a mod:

To disable a mod, open the Mod Manager and click on the green On button next to the name of the mod to switch it to Off.