FIELD REFERENCE / Tools & mods
Probably Stolen Mods Guide
Use the game's native mod workflow, read compatibility requirements and test changes one at a time.
Subscribe to a compatible mod in the Probably Stolen Steam Workshop, let Steam finish downloading, then enable it through the game's Mods menu and restart when required. Local packages need their own folder under Mods with a valid manifest.xml. Old demo loader instructions are not automatically applicable to the release.
Start with the correct Workshop and package
The developer confirms Steam Workshop and native mod support for the release. Use the Workshop for app 4348910 and read each author's supported game versions, prerequisites and save notes before subscribing.
Our recommendation is to define one feature you want to test. A large collection of unfamiliar changes makes it difficult to tell which mod caused a problem. Keep a separate backup of an important save before adding or removing mods that change its contents.
Evidence: Probably Stolen Steam Workshop · Developer: release and scenario overview
Install and activate a Workshop mod
- Open Probably Stolen's Workshop and choose a mod whose description supports your installed game. Read any required dependencies.
- Subscribe and let Steam complete the download. If the game was already running, relaunch so it can discover the package.
- Open Mods from the main menu and locate the installed entry. Check its author, requirements and requested capabilities.
- Activate the mod through the game's review flow. If the game reports a dependency or manifest problem, resolve that message instead of bypassing the check.
- Restart when prompted and verify the intended feature in a disposable test run before loading an important save.
Evidence: Probably Stolen Steam Workshop · Probably Stolen modding repository
Install a complete local package
The modding repository describes Mods as a folder inside the installation directory containing Probably Stolen.exe. Use Steam's Manage → Browse local files to find that directory. Each mod needs its own child folder, with manifest.xml and its declared files at that package root.
For example, Mods/ExampleMod/manifest.xml describes the package beside its DLL and assets. An extra nested folder or a lone DLL without the manifest is not the same layout. Keep the package intact and follow its author's instructions for dependencies.
The documentation explains that activation checks declared assemblies and capabilities. A refusal is useful information: record the exact message and ask the mod author for a compatible package. Do not edit the trust list or disguise an incompatible version just to make the entry appear active.
Evidence: Probably Stolen modding repository
Release mods and old demo instructions differ
The developer's modding security update warns that some existing mods may need author updates. A previously working mod is not proof of continued compatibility. Keep the game's update notes and the mod's own changelog separate: they answer different sides of the compatibility question.
| What you found | What to check |
|---|---|
| Steam Workshop subscription | Game-version support, prerequisites, completed download and in-game activation. |
| Native local package | Correct Mods folder, package-root manifest and all declared files. |
| Demo-era loader tutorial | Whether the author explicitly supports the release; do not assume the old loader is required. |
| A mod that stopped after a patch | Author updates and the game's compatibility or capability message. |
Evidence: Developer: release and scenario overview · Developer announcements and fixes
Troubleshoot in a useful order
| Symptom | Next action |
|---|---|
| Mod is missing from the list | Finish the download or check local folder nesting and the manifest. |
| Activation is refused | Read the exact dependency, version or capability error; obtain the author's corrected package. |
| Listed as active but nothing changes | Restart, check the mod's prerequisites and test the feature it actually changes. |
| Two mods work separately but fail together | Test the pair, review dependencies and report the combination to the authors. |
| An important save behaves differently | Stop experimenting on that copy; compare with the backup and the mod's save-compatibility notes. |
Make a useful mod bug report
Include the game build, mod name and version, other enabled mods, the exact error and the smallest sequence that reproduces it. If the author asks for logs, review them before sharing and avoid including unrelated personal files.
Check the base feature with the mod disabled on a test run where practical. This does not prove the mod is at fault, but it narrows the report and makes it easier to distinguish an installation error from an interaction between mods.
COUNTER QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Does Probably Stolen support Steam Workshop?
Yes. The official release overview confirms Workshop and a native modding system. Enable the downloaded mod in the game's Mods menu as required.
Do I need MelonLoader for every mod?
No. Native packages use the game's own system. Follow the supported release package's instructions rather than automatically applying demo-era loader steps.
Why did a mod stop loading after an update?
The game's interface, compatibility rules or security checks may have changed. Read the error and the author's update notes; the developer has explicitly warned that some mods need updates.
Sources & evidence
Source notes identify the basis for this guide. Your current in-game tooltips and dialogue take precedence when a patch or mod changes a mechanic.
- Probably Stolen Steam Workshop ↗
Official distribution surface for community-made mods. Individual mod authors provide requirements and compatibility notes.
- Probably Stolen modding repository ↗
Modding documentation linked from the game's Steam community; package layout, manifests and activation checks.
- Developer: release and scenario overview ↗
Official announcement. Establishes the nine release scenarios, store buyout goal and aquaculture basics.
- Developer announcements and fixes ↗
Official patch notes. Used for changed behavior, including filter removal, evaporator residue and mod compatibility.
Found a discrepancy? Send the page link and supporting evidence.