NexusMods Sold After 24 Years: Founder Steps Down, What’s Next for the Modding Giant?

Big news for all modding fans: after 24 years, NexusMods is being sold by its longtime owner, Robin “Dark0ne” Scott. If you’ve ever tweaked a PC game, chances are you’ve visited this legendary site. Now, after decades of shaping the modding world, Scott is stepping aside due to burnout and the pressures of running such a massive community hub.

NexusMods, the world’s biggest modding site, is changing owners after 24 years.
Robin “Dark0ne” Scott leaves due to burnout and health issues.
The new owners are promised to be community-focused and understand the modding scene.
NexusMods played a huge role in gaming culture, with mods for games like Skyrim, The Witcher, and Baldur’s Gate 3.
Scott will remain as an advisor but won’t be making final decisions.

End of an Era for NexusMods

Robin “Dark0ne” Scott has been the heart and soul of NexusMods since its humble beginnings in his bedroom back in 2001. Over the years, the site grew into the biggest repository for user-made mods, supporting everything from Skyrim and The Witcher to Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring. Modding has become a huge part of gaming culture, with entire YouTube channels dedicated to showcasing what the community creates.

Why Is NexusMods Being Sold?

Scott opened up about the reasons behind his decision in a heartfelt post. Running NexusMods has been rewarding but also “often exhausting and always personal.” He explained:

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.

What’s Next for NexusMods?

The identity of the new owners remains a mystery for now. Scott assures fans that the buyers are focused on the community and understand what makes modding special. The site, which now employs 40 people (some for nearly a decade!), has only grown stronger as Scott gradually stepped back in recent years.

NexusMods has also been at the center of many debates in the gaming world. The site has taken stands, like briefly banning mods that removed LGBTQ+ content in 2023, and also banned political mods before the 2020 US election. The team has weathered controversies, including the decision to stop allowing users to delete mods and discussions around “hateful” content (read more here). Mod creators have even faced legal issues over copyright, since many mods use assets from big gaming companies.

Scott Isn’t Disappearing

Even though he’s selling NexusMods, Scott isn’t vanishing. He’ll stay active on the Nexus mod author Discord and will keep advising on the site’s direction, just without the final say. As he puts it: