An Update From Dark0ne
I started this project back in 2001, in my bedroom, with a 56k modem, an excitement for the upcoming release of Morrowind and with no grand ambitions or intentions. I didn’t set out to build a business, I just wanted to make a place where modders could share their work without worrying it would vanish into the internet either the next time a fansite went offline or a publisher decided they were done with it. That idea grew legs, sprouted arms, and turned into Nexus Mods.
Since then, this site has been my entire adult life. Every single day, for over two decades, I’ve been "on call", whether it was fixing issues, reading feedback, pushing updates, or getting pulled into the latest bit of community drama. It’s been rewarding, sometimes chaotic, often exhausting and always personal. Somewhere along the way, I forgot to step back and breathe, or sleep properly. The dilemma of running a major social network that does not rest!
The strain of being responsible for the behemoth I created has taken its toll. The stress of the job has been a regular source of anxiety and stress-related health issues. I realised that I have been burning out and this started to have an impact on my staff and Nexus Mods as a whole. So, I firmly believe that the best thing for the future of Nexus Mods is for me to step aside and bring in new leadership to steer the business forward with renewed energy to make Nexus Mods the modding community we all truly deserve.
One of the biggest reasons I've been doing this for so long is that I've never felt that I truly found someone who really "gets" the modding community the way I do. Finding a new owner who would be able to understand and respect the myriad intricacies of both Nexus Mods as a business and the wider modding community was essential.
After months of meetings, face-to-face talks, and a whole lot of soul searching, I am thrilled to say that I truly believe I have found the exact right people for the task.
So yes, the ownership of Nexus Mods has changed hands, but I want to be clear, this isn’t some corporate “exit” or a backroom deal. This is me doing something I probably should’ve done years ago: taking care of myself. Reclaiming some headspace. And finally letting go of the idea that I have to do everything and be responsible for everything myself.
What changes now?
Honestly, not a lot, at least not from your side of things.
Behind the scenes, I’ve already been stepping back bit by bit. Over the past few years, the team has taken on more of the weight and the site’s been doing better than ever. What’s changing now is simply the formality of it, making sure the right people are in place to guide Nexus Mods into the next era.
That includes some structural updates to the company ownership that we aren’t shouting about, but I want to be transparent: they’re about long-term stability, not changing the values or direction of the platform. Nexus Mods is community-first and mod-author focused, that’s not up for negotiation.
While I am stepping back, it's important to understand that Nexus Mods isn't just about me and hasn't been for a long time. The Nexus Mods you see today has been created by a team of 40 incredibly dedicated people, some of whom have been here for over 9 years. They live and breathe modding, they care deeply, they’re experienced, committed, and they're very much still here. None of that is changing.
So if I can ask one thing, it’s to continue supporting them, the site, and the community they help nurture every day.
In terms of new faces, you’ll also be seeing more of Foledinho (Victor), Rapsak (Marinus) and Taagen (Nikolai), who’ve come on board to lead this next chapter. They’ve got deep roots in gaming, tech, and most importantly, they give a damn; about the site, the community, and the future we’re trying to build here.
Editor's Note: We've added Nikolai to the new owners listed above. He works more in the background, but is still an important part of the team!
They have my complete trust, and I’m incredibly proud to be bringing them onboard.
What about me?
I’m not disappearing. I’ll still be annoying people on the Mod Author Discord, lurking on the forums, and sticking my nose into community matters when I can’t help myself. I’ll also be working with the team to help guide the overall direction of the site, just without needing to be the person who signs off on every little thing and without taking responsibility for any and all things Nexus Mods.
Frankly, that’s a good thing, for me, for the team, and for the future of Nexus Mods.
888 comments
Thanks for the warm welcome! We’re as excited about Nexus Mods’ future as you are. This post was all about Robin, giving him the credit he truly deserves. He built something incredible, creating a culture that’s shaped gaming and modding as we know it. We're here to honor that legacy and carry it forward, but we need to earn your trust.
Now, let’s clear the air on a few things:
Trust takes time.
We're committed to putting control back in the hands of creators, players, and communities. We’ll get back to building now.
Marinus, Nikolai and Victor.
Pleased to meet you and thanks for clearing up some questions with your post.
Two distinct lines that caught my attention :
Are you saying you're giving the mod authors back the ownership to their mods, so they are free to delete them again ?
That they are free to make mods for the players and not get them banned because a few people are offended ?
Are you actively promoting the phrase : "if you don't like it, don't download it, don't post a hateful comment and move along" ?
Because that was always the golden rule, until "flags" became an issue.
Eagerly awaiting your response to this.
Cheers
-=DD=-
There also wasn’t any political censorship over the most mundane of changes.
So the new owners are Danish, and have to follow the laws that the EU lay out, and this is what the EU says about it.
"Hatred not only affects the individual victims, it represents a threat to vibrant democracies and a pluralistic society.Hate motivated crime and speech are illegal under EU law. The 2008 Framework Decision on combating certain forms of expressions of racism and xenophobia requires the criminalisation of public incitement to violence or hatred based on race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. "
So, yea... the bigoted mods are now not just considered distasteful, but hosting them could get the owner in criminal trouble.
Safe to say, I don't see them allowing the bigoted mods anytime in the near future ;)
You're always free to make any mod you want. Nexus Mods is free to refuse to host it. You'll only get banned if you try to get around their refusal to host it with fake accounts or other nonsense.
@BenDynamic96
Oh, Nexus knows their double standards alright, they are using them every single day, multiple times a day, spread over different modded games and users of their site.
@AleniaVamp2000
Where am I mentioning that I want mods like that? That's all in your head. I don't want a bigot mod, a hate speech mod, I don't want Nazi symbol mods, where did you ever get that idea?
A mod that gives you an option to change a flag into another flag can't be seen as any of these mentioned points.
If you do look at it as bigotry, hate speech or xenophobic : That's on you.
Just like the body type selector mod for Oblivion Remastered that changes Type1 body and Type2 body back to "Male/Female".
Please read the Post from Picky in the image section, and especially the last point at the bottom of the image.
@acidzebra
How is changing a flag to another flag "erasing minorities and vulnerable groups" ? People are free not to download the mod if they are offended, just as people don't have to download certain flag mods if they don't like it.
And yes : mods that DO promote "erasing minorities and vulnerable groups" should be banned, that's a no brainer.
But a flag mod is far from that.
Just like the body type selector mod for Oblivion Remastered that changes Type1 body and Type2 body back to "Male/Female".
Please read the Post from Picky in the image section, and especially the last point at the bottom of the image.
@showler
Did you even read the post from @Foledinho made and the points that I addressed in my post ?
Clearly ownership is being given back to the creator of the mod. The mods will no longer be held hostage by the hosting party (i.e. Robin Scott)
If you do look at it as bigotry, hate speech or xenophobic : That's on you. "
A mod that erases Pride flags is *exactly that*.
How come ya’ll never say what kind of flag you're modding out? Could it be because you KNOW ITS WRONG and don't wanna admit the bigotry out loud?
The quote you used from the EU legislation does not cover flags being changed in video games. it handles REAL LIFE issue.
Because, what's next? Not having a rainbow flag as my avatar on a website makes me a bigot ? A transphobe or a homophobe ?
Not speaking up for the rights of the LHBTQ++ community in real life or on a website makes me a bigot? Or a transphobe, or a homophobe ?
It's changing a texture in a video game. In my video game, a game that I can mod as I see fit. Even with a texture I create myself
It's clearly not about the texture being changed, it's about a mod that gives you the opportunity to use that same texture and it being hosted on a website. It's about the tool and the shop, not the work being done.
Like the last line from Picky which said : Use the "real world issues" tag and block the mod author. just like the majority needs to do if they encounter a mod that addresses "real world issues" like the Pride flag.
Seeing as you are pretty determined about Pride flags, what about all the other websites that do host mods that change pride flags ?
Are you going to the site to complain and get the mod taken down and have the author banned ?
Or is it just about the Nexus ? Are you limiting your own pride to only one website in the whole world ?
(Oh, and btw : even @Foledinho didn't use the wording "Pride flag". You need to address him too, seeing as I used his wording.)
Are you going to the site to complain and get the mod taken down and have the author banned ?
Or is it just about the Nexus ? Are you limiting your own pride to only one website in the whole world ?"
As I have stated many times: If another website wants to host anti-pride mods, that is that site's business. I can choose not to utilize that site, just like you can choose to not use this one.
But egh... quick question? Do those other websites have this in their TOS?
Inappropriate Content:
Content that may be generally construed as provocative, divisive, objectionable, discriminatory, or abusive toward any real-world individual or group, may be subject to moderation. This includes but is not limited to content involving politics, race, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or social class.
Cause THIS ONE does. And you agreed to it when you signed up for your account. And they are free to enforce it when people cross that line. But that is what REALLY galls you... you're unable to terrorize people on this platform, and it makes you... act silly.
Did you have a look at the comments made on mods that weren't yet taken down and see what kind of comments the Pride community makes on those mods ? Did they get a warning or a ban before the mod was taken down ? No. Because after the mod is taken down, those comments disappear.
The Pride community is just as vile and mean as any other group of people.
It's not the flag for the Pride community either. The flag is their symbol.
You touch the symbol, you touch the Pride movement and what it stands for.
Speaking about vile comments, is this really necessary ?
And please tell me what you mean by what kind of people I choose to hang with and what that makes me if I somehow found my views about flags aligning with theirs ? What are you assuming ? Just say it if you have something to say.
Well, I see haters frequently getting banned for wishing lgbt people dead etc etc. but I don't see the reverse - that is, lgbt people getting banned en masse for making equally hateful and vile comments, and you're saying this is because their comments disappear when a mod disappears? I'm sorry, what? You know people will absolutely report comments, even deleted comments are not safe because moderators can access them and will absolutely act on them if they break site rules. And somehow this extreme imbalance has continued to exist for years; ban after ban for people wishing terrible things for lgbt people and just mass disappeared equally bad comments from lgbt folk that never get acted on and you conveniently can't reproduce. The evidence for the entirety of this theory is... ???? I'd respond further but you are saying increasingly bizarre things and really, not worth the effort. Have a nice one.
Why do you think I want to terrorize people on this platform ? I just want to mod my game, that's all.
I will report this and then I'm done with all of this.
Let @Foledinho comment if he want to address my points, but I'm dome with discussing this with people that feel the need to get personal and offensive, which is getting the norm these here days.
Good night
People uttering these comments are still on the Nexus, I see them every time I log in, I know who they are @acidzebra
Also: your own vile comment and that of @TheMadTemplar and @AleniaVamp2000 in this thread alone are more than enough proof.
Good night
lol mate are you serious? I missed this earlier. That is hilarious. You know the ban section of the forums goes back to almost the start of the site right? Like you can go there right now and see you are just unequivocally wrong. For as long as the nexus has existed people have done sketchy stuff with mods and gotten banned for it. Utterly bizarre statement. Wait wait wait, when did you think the pride movement started? There are layers of wrong here. Can you put a date on when "problems with mods" started?
... like, in the 80s?! You know what, Im gonna give you this one. There was zero issues with this site in the 80s, agreed!
Dark0ne thanks for making this site.
Censorship is the easiest and effective way to avoid heavy persecution by the sector and ended up being satanized in an important Usa or French News Platform, or in the worst cases doxed by an Influencer.
Dark0ne have my respect, he did everything necessary for the NexusMods endurance even on this funny days.
(I think that charging for mods is... a legal minefield, though? I don't think it is legal, actually?)
Stars forbid, they might even charge mod authors for increased "exposure" for their mods, the way sites like DeviantArt already does. Now THAT would be anathema to the modding community. Their corporate cop-out at introducing themselves seems to be testament to their vehement aversion to transparency, instead of embracing it. It is unbelievable to me that I actually had to look up their company (Chosen), and read some forum posts from other users instead of having the new owners make their mission clear. A "Hey, we're taking advantage of an exhausted owner to buy a thriving modding site, and extract every penny we can out of it while we run it into the ground." would have, at least, been more honest and transparent. They didn't even give us that.
Face it. We're a product and an untapped customer base to them. Not a community.
That would, indeed, be the worst.
(I say that, but there is always... worse than worse... Man I hope they don't mess up this platform.)
I don't think on the consumer end there is that much stretch or opportunity to squeeze more cash out of things. My expectation is that if they want to actually grow the site and not just flip it, they would look at something like partnering up with game companies and doing mod integration. I don't know their plans obviously but there's a good chunk of cash there. But even though Robin's exit seems somewhat expedited, nothing in the last few decades of his activities has given me any indication that he doesn't care about mods and the community surrounding them or that he would just dumpster decades of his life work.
(ps my favorite conspiracy theory: all mod sites and their owners are involved in a secret competition to see who can build the worst UI)
... Im not gonna lie, that one has legs O.o
But I'm grandfathered into a lifetime premium membership, so either nothing will change. or I will be the one playing the violin on top of a sinking Titanic. Only time will tell.
All the best to RMNV.
Anyway, thank you Robin for the many years of service. Sad to see you go, but I understand. I think things were better without the massive team, though I understand why it had to be done. Growing pains and all.
🟥 🟧 🟨 🟩 🟦 🟪
There is no "censorship" happening on Nexus Mods.
The moment you create an account on their platform, you agree to their rules and TOS, which includes their File Submission guidelines:
TL:DR - "Don't publish bigoted mods on our platform or we'll have to remove it."
Don't agree with these rules? NexusMods might not be for you then.
*Chefs Kiss*
Look at Twitch, a dying platform, because all they do is alienate their userbase.
I think what you might not fathom is that... the people who wanna be bigots ARE the minority of users on Nexus. And Nexus has NO reason to cater to them, because the folks that are NOT bigots are who would leave if they start allowing it... and they outnumber the bigots 5 to 1 conservatively.
Also (again) this site is operating under the EU now... and they have pretty strict laws that would get Nexus taken down if they started hosting those kinds of mods. So no... they do NOT need to do that. That would be bad LOL
If they have not relocated their place of business to Denmark, then this statement is incorrect. The United Kingdom is no longer a member of the EU. If the company is still based in England, English law applies.
Put in that what you want.
Company is based in Denmark.
Denmark is part of the EU.
Therefore: Nexus us now under the purview of the EU now.
Yea, it's been two days, my dude.
(Although, to be fair, this is likely you self-soothing with this thought, so I shouldn't be ornery to you about it. Mea Culpa )
Rockin.
Im feelin pretty good with that outcome too LOL
(Sorry to ruin your gotcha, though :P )
It's perfectly fine if it stays in the UK. Worked so far.
It's perfectly fine if it stays in the UK. Worked so far."
... ^^^ That with Ice cream on top!
How quickly you turn toward the wind. Impressive.
Oh dear... how to make you understand that just so long as bigoted, hateful mods are still unwelcome here, Im happy as a sung little bug in a rug?
That's an absolute *WIN* for everyone who wants to be able to mod without having alt-right Not-See stuff bogging up their feeds.
"Oh! That protection is not happening in the exact way you said it might!"
LOL, and? Anything else, peanut?
Have a beautiful rest of your day! <3
Yeah, seems a one sided argument. I can list several mods that offend each and every one of these.
Seems it only works for the benefit of one group.
Also, everyone here is a bigot as they try to conform others to their views and dislike other views political or religious. If you need help with that definition look it up.
Seems it only works for the benefit of one group."
Care to elaborate on that?
What a banger argument. I wonder if my table will last that long **head <> table**
Hilariously and sadly I've seen someone here argue that because the TOS has changed a few times, it doesn't mean anything.
You know, you really should try to avoid any more head injuries, you're already at a disadvantage, it would seem.
@AleniaVamp2000 Phew, now you've really thrown me a curveball. I'm speechless.
EDIT: Oh i forgot something: sarcasm off
You are making comments on an announcement. You are still bound by the TOS.
But I am also *so happy* you took the empowering steps to remove your mods. Good for you!
I tried. My comments keep getting flagged and banned. I guess there isn't "censorship" here after all **rolls eyes**
Daaaaling, you make nothing but vague statements laced with alt-right talking points that could be taken 5 or 6 different ways, depending on what you're responding to, which you don't provide. (So you can then say "No one is smart enough to understand me!")
You have yet to make an actual point... mostly because if you make a clear statement, that can be argued on facts, and you have shown yourself to not be a fan of those. But I await, with bated breath... Im sure your next bit will be just enchanting.
Wonderful! Then it all balances out. You don't offer much more than leftist talking points paired with framing, name calling, and a lot of emotions. Perfectly aligned with DEI and gender politics.
And there it is.
Oh... it's gonna be a good day.
"Perfectly aligned with DEI and gender politics."
Can you explain to the class what is wrong with wanting Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion?
... ... ... they did start it LOL
WileCoyote68: "@AleniaVamp2000 Sorry to say this but reading comprehension doesn't seem to be one of your strengths."
"Wonderful! Then it all balances out. You don't offer much more than leftist talking points paired with framing, name calling, and a lot of emotions. Perfectly aligned with DEI and gender politics."
"What a clever person you are. In fact, I only signed the terms of service once. Any changes made after that can only be considered tacit consent at best. And now read my statement again, you still don't understand it."
If your interpretation of DEI didn't just refer to marginalized groups but include everyone, then there would certainly be nothing wrong with it. But you are full of hatred and rejection and do not accept anything outside your perfect little echo chamber. That's annoying and disgusting. So please ignore me, just like you said you would yesterday. Was this statement clear enough for you?
Rules for thee not for me. Typical
Either read everything on the subject or leave it alone. Nobody needs this nonsense.
What nonsense? You mean the obvious downplay and disregard for adhering to the TOS regardless when it was agreed upon? Did you forget that TOS can change with/without notifying an individual but they still must abide those TOS? Did you also not know what bigot means? Certain people here are targeting certain groups which violate TOS. So they're being reported. Pot, kettle, does that medicine taste good, etc etc.
"If your interpretation of DEI didn't just refer to marginalized groups but include everyone, then there would certainly be nothing wrong with it. "
What a starter. Explain to me how white, straight males are oppressed to the point of needing special laws to protect them? Tell me, when was the last time a white man was say... lynched by an angry mob. Or kidnapped by authorities, and then trafficked? Or got pulled over for driving while white? As a group, you are simply afraid that if you become the minority, the new majority will do to you what you have done to them... it's a sad way to live one's life.
"But you are full of hatred and rejection and do not accept anything outside your perfect little echo chamber. That's annoying and disgusting."
Naaa fam, I don't hate you. I actually feel pretty bad for you, because you have been fed poison your whole life, given this idea of some beautiful past where everyone had to defer to you and your social power. You're just mad that the world changed, and you might not be the "Standard model" anymore.
BUT: I do reject hate, and abuse, and hold contempt for those that try to justify it. I will protect those that you attack. I will make you say the quiet part out loud so EVERYONE can see the poison you wanna spill out.
So please ignore me, just like you said you would yesterday. Was this statement clear enough for you?
You wanna engage in this convo, I wanna engage in this convo... You can always block me though, I guess... that would be a win lol
And there it is.
Ironic calling things you don't like or agree with "n@zi" while being more like n@zis than the actual n@zis were.
LOL, one of the mods everyone is screaming about being taken down had LITERAL NOT-SEE FLAGS ADDED INTO IT.
Also? I see mods on the Nexus all the time that trigger my personal "Ick Factor". Like the ones that give Skyrim characters giant anime heads and Tattas that have better mapped out physics than a Blue Origin flight. It's a squick for me. Do I think those mods should not be allowed, or removed cause they ick me out? Absolutely NOT. They have every right to be here.
That tolerance ends when the hatefulness begins. Modding out pride flags is trying to erase LGBTQ history and people. Adding in Not-See flags is a test to see if TRUE antisemitic content will be allowed, and if it IS allowed, it will only get so much worse.
Study up on the paradox of tolerance, and get back to me. Hope this helps :)
Just because I happen to be white, I don't have to take responsibility for anything. What do I care what my ancestors may have done? I live here and now and have nothing to do with ancient past. Your way of thinking is weird and bad. But of course, you are not spreading hatred.
I don't want to be the standard model for anything. I believe in biological facts. Reproduction is 99% binary in nature. It involves a man and a woman. I haven't attacked anyone, and I am not responsible for your obviously limited comprehension and empathy.
Oh, don't worry Boo, none of us here expect any of that from you <3
Im speaking for myself, about myself. It's presumptuous of you to assume that Im not on one of those groups, and therefore unable to speak up about it, Boo.
BUT ALSO OF NOTE: No one HAS TO BE represented in said groups to speak up about their mistreatment.
*gigglesnort*
All the PMs thanking me say otherwise my dude, but go off :D
I did not have "Genny told Johnny that Robby said he heard Rita say no one likes Tommy!" on the ol' checklist of "I can't argue my points without looking bad, so I'll just Smarm".
Allow me to let you in on something... Im not here chasing points or social clout or trends, and there is not a single little nugget of f*ck residing in my tiny bones for who likes or dislikes what I have to say.
Now... where were we? Oh, yea, you were trying to shut me up using High School Mean Girl tactics. Right, carry on!
Oh, they understand... ... ...
(I have lifetime, so I will have to give them money in another way lol)