Independent gamingmods platform Nexus Mods has been sold by its creator and owner of 24 years, Robin “Dark0ne” Scott. Scott first created Nexus Mods back in 2001, and it has since become one of the largest resources players use to modify their games. Nexus Mods hosts custom content for a variety of games, including favorites for modders likeSkyrimandStardew Valley.
Scott promises that the decision to sell the platform is “the best thing for the future of Nexus Mods,“and cites burnout as a major factor behind this latest development, according toPolygon. Nexus Mods have been thesubject of criticism and controversyin past years, which could have contributed to Scott’s anxiety and burnout. Scott also mentions feeling the constant need to check in on how the platform is operating as part of the issue. Scott’s full comments can be seen below:
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.
Nexus Mods Has Been Sold To New Owners After 24 Years
Nexus Mods' New Owners Are Still Unknown
It’s clear from Robin Scott’s statements regarding Nexus Mods that keeping the site running was a full-time job. Although Scott wasn’t doing the job alone - the company reportedly has 40 other employees - being the figurehead for the company was still a major endeavor that he took on.It seems only natural that Scott would want to take a step back from the companyif it had gotten to the point where the stress of managing Nexus Mods was causing health issues.
Scott has already reportedly started to step back from his responsibilities at Nexus Mods, meaning the transition to new owners will likely go smoothly, especially if existing employees stay on board. Scott will also be staying on in an advisory capacity, meaning his influence over the site won’t be entirely absent. Although we haven’t gotten word on Nexus Mods' new owners, the fact that Scott is staying involved hopefully means we aren’t in for any drastic changes after the sale.
Our Take: Nexus Mods Sale Seems Positive (For Now)
It Sounds Like The Sale Could Allow The Site’s Creator More Breathing Room
For many players,Nexus Mods is an essential part of their gaming experience. Mods have been propping upgames likeSkyrimfor years now, to the point where many people won’t even play the base game. It’s only natural for players to wonder what might happen to the platform, not that it is changing hands.
As of now,I’m cautiously optimistic about the sale of Nexus Mods. For one thing, nobody should have to risk their health to maintain a website, so I’m happy that it sounds like this move will be personally beneficial for Robin Scott. Additionally, Scott will likely have an easier time creatively contributing to the site’s operations when he isn’t dealing with the constant stress of keeping it running. I’m also glad someone is stepping in to keep it running, so I can still get myStardew Valleymodsafter Scott steps down.
The only real concern here is the fact that we haven’t heard who bought Nexus Mods. I hope that it is being kept quiet simply because the deal is still in the process of being finalized, and not because the platform has been sold to a company with a poor reputation. Scott’s insistence that this move is for the best has me optimistic that he wouldn’t just sell the site to any company without considering the impact on its future. Still, I can’t help but have some reservations anytime anindieproject gets bought by a larger entity.
