Nexus Mods Sold After 24 Years—Fans Fear Paywalls, NFTs, and Greedy Changes, But Here’s What’s Really Happening

Robin ‘Dark0ne’ Scott, the founder of Nexus Mods, has announced he is stepping down after 24 years of running the world’s largest modding platform. In a heartfelt post on the site, Scott shared that the demands of managing Nexus Mods had taken a heavy toll. “The strain of being responsible for the behemoth I created has taken its toll,” he wrote.

“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.”

Scott launched Nexus Mods in 2001, starting with a dial-up connection and no clue it would grow to host mods for thousands of games, recently surpassing 10 billion downloads.

Feeling burnt out, he decided new leadership was needed to keep the site thriving. “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,” he said.

Ownership has now transferred to a new team connected to a company called Chosen. Scott expressed confidence in them, stating, “Nexus Mods is community-first and mod-author focused, that’s not up for negotiation.”

However, some users grew uneasy after discovering Chosen’s business-focused website, which uses phrases like “We partner. We amplify. We conquer,” and LinkedIn posts from its founders mentioning microtransactions and NFTs. Fears spread that Nexus Mods might shift toward paywalls or commercialization.

To address concerns, Foledinho, one of the new owners, posted on the site to reassure the community. “Mods will always remain free,” he promised, adding that free accounts face no new limits, downloads won’t require payment, and lifetime premium memberships will be honored.

A Nexus Mods spokesperson echoed this to PC Gamer, saying, “Our focus is on continuity, not disruption. We have a very experienced team here of 40 highly talented people, with tons of modding experience and a deep history with the community and this is not changing.” They clarified that the new owners are hands-on, “embedded in the team, working with us all directly, not sitting in a distant tower, remotely directing us all towards some nefarious goals.”

Scott emphasized the team effort behind Nexus Mods’ success. “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,” he said. The site pledges to maintain its core values: free access, support for modders, and a community-first approach.

Scott’s decision to step down is understandable after 24 years of carrying such a massive responsibility. His transparency about burnout sets a good example, and I’m hopeful the new leadership will honor Nexus Mods’ community-driven spirit.

The initial fears about Chosen’s business vibe are valid, but Foledinho’s promises are reassuring for now. I’ll be watching to see if the site stays true to its roots or leans too commercial. What do you think about the ownership change at Nexus Mods? Are you worried about its future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!