diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 5c96c5ecdf8..6c3f086727d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -85,3 +85,6 @@ buildSrc/src/api
 testplugins.settings.gradle.kts
 spongeforge.settings.gradle.kts
 projects.properties
+# External plugin projects
+/userplugins/userPluginBuilds
+/userplugins/userPlugins
diff --git a/SpongeAPI b/SpongeAPI
index 53b9cfebe8a..69b4c97428c 160000
--- a/SpongeAPI
+++ b/SpongeAPI
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 53b9cfebe8aa1151286781bfdc52790792830716
+Subproject commit 69b4c97428c9b5bb6699c793d6f069eb79afebc4
diff --git a/forge/build.gradle.kts b/forge/build.gradle.kts
index f65138b6d56..0e3a63e6513 100644
--- a/forge/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/forge/build.gradle.kts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ val bootstrapDevProject = commonProject.project(":bootstrap-dev")
 val transformersProject = commonProject.project(":modlauncher-transformers")
 val libraryManagerProject = commonProject.project(":library-manager")
 val testPluginsProject: Project? = rootProject.subprojects.find { "testplugins" == it.name }
+val userPluginsProject: Project? = rootProject.subprojects.find { "userplugins" == it.name }
 
 val apiVersion: String by project
 val minecraftVersion: String by project
@@ -215,6 +216,9 @@ dependencies {
     testPluginsProject?.also {
         runtimeOnly(project(it.path))
     }
+    userPluginsProject?.also {
+        runtimeOnly(project(it.path))
+    }
 }
 
 val awFiles: Set<File> = files(main.get().resources, forgeMain.resources).filter { it.name.endsWith(".accesswidener") }.files
diff --git a/neoforge/build.gradle.kts b/neoforge/build.gradle.kts
index 205a722707c..c7e66a8b8b5 100644
--- a/neoforge/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/neoforge/build.gradle.kts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ val commonProject = parent!!
 val transformersProject = commonProject.project(":modlauncher-transformers")
 val libraryManagerProject = commonProject.project(":library-manager")
 val testPluginsProject: Project? = rootProject.subprojects.find { "testplugins" == it.name }
+val userPluginsProject: Project? = rootProject.subprojects.find { "userplugins" == it.name }
 
 val apiVersion: String by project
 val minecraftVersion: String by project
@@ -305,6 +306,9 @@ tasks {
 
                 dependsOn(it.tasks.classes)
             }
+            userPluginsProject?.also {
+                dependsOn(it.tasks.classes)
+            }
 
             argumentProviders += CommandLineArgumentProvider {
                 mixinConfigs.asSequence()
diff --git a/settings.gradle.kts b/settings.gradle.kts
index 6202443c650..c71d24b3c2c 100644
--- a/settings.gradle.kts
+++ b/settings.gradle.kts
@@ -110,6 +110,22 @@ if (projects.contains("neoforge")) {
     project(":SpongeNeo").projectDir = file("neoforge")
 }
 
+if (projects.contains("userplugins")) {
+    include(":userplugins")
+    val userPluginBuilds = file("userplugins/userPluginBuilds")
+    if (userPluginBuilds.exists()) {
+        userPluginBuilds.readLines().filter { !it.startsWith("#") && it.isNotBlank()}.forEach {
+            includeBuild(it)
+        }
+    } else {
+        userPluginBuilds.writeText("# Add paths to your plugin projects here")
+    }
+    val userPlugins = file("userplugins/userPlugins")
+    if (userPlugins.exists().not()) {
+        userPlugins.writeText("# Add dependencies to your plugins here")
+    }
+}
+
 if (projects.contains("testplugins")) {
     include(":testplugins")
 }
diff --git a/userplugins/build.gradle.kts b/userplugins/build.gradle.kts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6e7a29097d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/userplugins/build.gradle.kts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+val apiVersion: String by project
+
+dependencies {
+    annotationProcessor(implementation("org.spongepowered:spongeapi:$apiVersion")!!)
+    val userPlugins = file("userPlugins")
+    if (userPlugins.exists()) {
+        userPlugins.readLines().filter { !it.startsWith("#") && it.isNotBlank() }.forEach {
+            implementation(it)
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/vanilla/build.gradle.kts b/vanilla/build.gradle.kts
index 111073b834a..1330f0408e6 100644
--- a/vanilla/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/vanilla/build.gradle.kts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ val bootstrapDevProject = commonProject.project(":bootstrap-dev")
 val transformersProject = commonProject.project(":modlauncher-transformers")
 val libraryManagerProject = commonProject.project(":library-manager")
 val testPluginsProject: Project? = rootProject.subprojects.find { "testplugins" == it.name }
+val userPluginsProject: Project? = rootProject.subprojects.find { "userplugins" == it.name }
 
 val apiVersion: String by project
 val apiJavaTarget: String by project
@@ -246,6 +247,9 @@ dependencies {
     testPluginsProject?.also {
         runtimeOnly(project(it.path))
     }
+        userPluginsProject?.also {
+            runtimeOnly(project(it.path))
+        }
 }
 
 minecraft {