The game's developers implemented an anti-piracy measure for Game Dev Tycoon. One of the most common ways people make these mods is with a Third-party software component called Ultimate Module Editor (UME). They range from simple, such as adding new consoles and topics, to making new libraries like UltimateLib. As of 29 October 2020, there are 788 mods on Steam Workshop. The game supports mods written in JavaScript with the gdt-modAPI. The player may also open up a Hardware Lab to create consoles and devices. After that further expansion is available, with players given the opportunity to open an R&D lab when reaching certain requirements that host major projects, allowing the player to unlock things they wouldn't be able to otherwise, such as MMOs and online game shops similar to Steam, Uplay, App Store etc. As the player progresses through the game further they have the opportunity to move to new offices and hire staff. New consoles will also be released, and the player will be able to buy licenses for certain consoles, such as the GS, PlaySystem, mBox, Vena Oasis, TES, and grPad which parody real life consoles and devices with different names due to trademark regulations. When the first game engine is built, the player's game development skills improve. As new games are created, new options are unlocked. The player starts out in a garage in the early 1980s during the golden age of arcade video games with no employees, limited money, and limited choices for the first game.

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