Emergent precariousness: Video game modding in the context of a decolonial philosophy of technology

Abstract

This paper reflects on the political aspect of game modding in Brazil through a case study of local private servers of World of Warcraft (Blizzard, 2004-) and the Brazukas mod of Pro Evolution Soccer (PES, Konami, 2001-). These regional PC modding initiatives started as a form of conditioned access to the games and the global community/market around them and became active forms of participation and intervention that shaped gaming in general in the country. Following their traces on social media, interviewing some of the key stakeholders and playing the mods, I argue that precariousness is a central aspect of both the final product and their assemblage. This paper documents these processes as a decolonial approach to technology that addresses the socioeconomical context of scarcity, but ultimately leads to a larger epistemological critique.