Recently, Robin ‘Dark0ne’ Scott, the founder of Nexus Mods, announced he was stepping down after 24 years of running the site. While this caused a lot of concern for modders, the new owners have jumped to clarify their position on monetized mods.
To address these concerns, one of the new owners, known as Foledinho, quickly released a statement to reassure users. The message was straightforward, confirming that Nexus Mods’ basic model would stay the same. A key promise was that mods would always be free. This doesn’t just mean they’ll be available; it means users won’t have to pay to download them. Additionally, Chosen, the new owners, told PC Gamer that they won’t try to take ownership of mods uploaded to Nexus, stressing that mods belong to their original creators.
The Nexus Mods spokesperson said, “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. The new owners are here, embedded in the team, working with us all directly, not sitting in a distant tower, remotely directing us all towards some nefarious goals.”
The new owners also confirmed that free accounts will stay as they are, with no new restrictions. For users who bought lifetime premium accounts, which was a major concern, Foledinho confirmed that their access won’t be taken away. Premium accounts will keep their current benefits, including faster download speeds.
When it comes to future monetization, Foledinho admitted that while some new ways to make money might be considered, the main priority is supporting mod creators, keeping users happy, and making sure the site can keep operating. However, a document called a “Gaming Startup Monetisation Cheat Sheet” was found to be written by one of Chosen’s founders. This document listed different ways to make money, including Play-to-Earn, Microtransactions, Pay-to-Play, Subscription Models, and even Digital Goods and NFTs.
I looked over that document, and it seemed pretty fair. It states the company should not over-monetize and should offer the customer a real benefit whenever they ask for money. I think it’s a good thing, and I wish companies like Ubisoft and EA would follow rules like this.
Likely in reference to that sheet, the new owners praised the existing premium membership system, calling it a successful model that helped the site grow while supporting the community. They have no plans to change how the premium system works.
The initial lack of clarity about Chosen’s identity was explained by Foledinho, who said the first announcement was mostly about Robin Scott’s legacy. The new owners planned to introduce themselves more fully once they had “earned that right,” which suggests they wanted their actions to prove their intentions. However, many wanted answers immediately instead of letting Robin have his time in the light after a long career dedicated to Nexus Mods.
Robin’s decision to leave was due to the stress of managing such a large platform, and is understandable. What’s good is that Chosen has been clear that it will not make sweeping changes, so modders can stop worrying for now.
Source: PC Gamer
