Flexibility of the modding tools aside I'd expect it to be possible.
But the challenge when it comes to modern modding is that the entry level raised considerably compared to the age of Infinity Engine games. You can't have just a standard character model with a copy-pasted Luis Rojo portrait picture and few lines of scripting.
Modding that wants to merge seamlessly with the game will have to account for animations, voice acting (this used to be out of the question, but in recent times many high profile modders started hiring amateur/beginner voice actors for their creations) and all that jazz, almost necessary to make the custom content blend naturally.
Sounds like more work than Skyrim then. Animations may make it more complicated for me but I don't care about voice acting. If I was to make companion mods I would just let someone else bother with that stuff. Subtitles are enough for me.
Additionally they said they started us with the companions that would be the most contentious.
I'll be honest, I don't buy that for a second. Why did they make the companions we have softer/not as asshole-ish then? I think THESE are the core companions they envisioned as THE origin characters and have maybe a couple others planned. Whether or not they've changed their plans after some of then negative feedback is another thing.
I cannot think of the words to describe properly why they did this without offending a lot of people. Pretty sure it has to do with people nowadays being oversensitive and claiming to be hurt by even someone looking at them in a manner they perceive as negative. Probably there were many complaints that the companions were making the players miserable or whatever, and rather than repost what they had said, they caved to these types.
"They plan to have eight companions, possibly more, and potentially including companions that won't be origin characters"
Interesting wording, I wonder if he said "eight origin characters" or "eight companions". I agree with Saito, at this point I think it would be wise to take everything with a grain of salt. Hopefully we'll know more soon!
I would hope some non origin ones show up after Act 1 if we are going to be locked to the same party. People and opinions change and it would suck to be stuck with someone you no longer get along with in the party.
