To create mods or custom maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops III, use the official PC Mod Tools available as a separate installation in Steam’s Library. You need the full PC game, and the game and tools should be installed in the same Steam library location. The documented workflow is for PC; it does not describe mod installation on console.
What you need to mod Black Ops 3
The official toolchain covered here is for the PC version of Black Ops III. Steam’s Black Ops III store listing says owners of the full game can install “Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Mod Tools” from the Tools section of their Steam Library. It also distinguishes creating content from playing it: downloading the creator tools is not stated as a requirement for playing Workshop content.
Activision announced the PC Modding & Mapping Tools Open Beta on September 27, 2016, writing, “The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 PC Modding & Mapping Tools Open Beta is now live!” That is a historical announcement, not a statement that a new beta has launched today. See Activision’s announcement.
Install the separate Mod Tools
- In Steam, open Library and switch to the Tools category.
- Find and install Call of Duty: Black Ops III – Mod Tools. The Steam listing ties access to owning the full game.
- Install Black Ops III and the Mod Tools in the same Steam library location. The official guide says both installations need to be in the same library folder.
The same-folder instruction and setup notes below come from the official Steam Community guide, published in 2016 and updated October 12, 2016. If a current Steam installation behaves differently, check the present installation’s paths and current tool behavior rather than assuming every legacy note still applies. The guide is available at Official – Call of Duty: Black Ops III – How to Create – Workshop Guide.
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Which BO3 modding tool should you use?
The official guide describes three tools with distinct jobs. They are parts of one workflow, not competing alternatives.
| Tool | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Mod Tools Launcher | Starting and managing custom map or mod projects, choosing build settings, and publishing a submission. |
| Radiant | Building custom maps and working on visual effects. The guide calls it “the Black Ops III Level Editor.” |
| Asset Property Editor (APE) | Managing, editing, previewing, and inspecting assets such as models, materials, audio, and weapons. |
Check the guide’s legacy setup notes
The 2016 guide includes technical requirements and setup details, but these figures are not a current compatibility guarantee. It lists Windows 7 or Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i7 2600 or AMD FX-8350 processor examples, a GTX 770 or AMD HD 7970 graphics card, at least 4 GB of VRAM, and at least 16 GB of DDR3 RAM.
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Its memory observation is tied to a particular Radiant scenario: with ZM_Giant loaded, asset browsers open, and additional assets installed, the guide reports use of up to 19 GB of RAM. That is an observation from the guide, not a general minimum or a benchmark for every project. The guide also specifies a Windows decimal-symbol setting; consult the setup section in the linked guide if the editor encounters issues with numeric values, and verify the setting in your current Windows version.
Create and publish a map or mod
Name maps for their game mode
The guide says custom map names should begin with mp_ for Multiplayer or zm_ for Zombies. Use the matching prefix when setting up the map project in the Launcher.
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Build the project in the Launcher
Use the Mod Tools Launcher to manage the project and its build settings, then work on map layout and visual effects in Radiant or edit assets in APE as needed. The guide’s submission directions also cover preparing project files, including `.xpak` files, and selecting language options. Because those are instructions from a guide last updated in 2016, follow its detailed steps while checking that the controls and available options match your installed tools.
Publish through the Launcher
- Open the project in the Mod Tools Launcher and prepare it for submission using the guide’s publishing instructions.
- Choose the Launcher’s Publish control.
- In the dialog, enter the item name and description and provide a preview image, then complete the submission flow.
The BO3 guide describes Steam Workshop as the system used to manage and distribute submissions from the tools. Steamworks’ general Steam Workshop documentation explains that items are made available through Steam and that Steam keeps subscribed Workshop content updated. The latter is general Steam platform behavior; the BO3-specific connection to Workshop comes from the BO3 guide.
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Creating content versus playing Workshop content
Creating requires the PC game and the separate Mod Tools installation described above. Playing Workshop content is a different case: Steam’s store listing says downloading the Mod Tools is not required merely to play Workshop content. The documentation cited here does not establish a console workflow, so these instructions should not be applied to PlayStation or Xbox editions.
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