Nexus Mods has officially changed hands after 24 years under the guidance of its founder, known as Dark0ne. The platform is recognized as the premier destination for PC game modifications, featuring a staggering library of 716,500 mods spanning 3,768 games.
In an official blog post, Dark0ne elaborated on his decision to step away from the helm, citing “stress-related health issues” as a significant factor influencing his leadership.
“I realized that I have been burning out, and this started to have an impact on my staff and Nexus Mods as a whole,” wrote Dark0ne. “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.”
Despite the change in ownership, Dark0ne reassured users that the experience on the platform will largely remain unaffected, as he introduced the new owners—Victor, Marinus, and Nikolai—who will lead Nexus Mods moving forward. Interestingly, the blog post directs readers to their Nexus Mods accounts for more information, omitting any details about their prior business experience.
This announcement prompted many users to investigate further. A user known as RandomlyRandom67 on ResetEra discovered LinkedIn profiles belonging to several individuals with the same names as the new owners, all of whom are associated with a Danish growth-oriented gaming company called Chosen. Notably, Marinus Elgaard’s LinkedIn profile includes the statement, “Working closely with teams at NexusMods and beyond to build meaningful, sustainable experiences.”
Chosen’s LinkedIn page confirms the presence of staff members named Victor, Marinus, Nikolai, and Nikolaj, suggesting a strong link between the two entities. However, this connection has sparked concern among Nexus Mod users, particularly given Chosen’s focus on growth and Victor Folmann’s previous remarks regarding monetization strategies that include in-app purchases and sponsorships.
Furthermore, Folmann referenced a monetization “cheat sheet” that proposed a play-to-earn model, alarming some users. In response to one comment that warned against the inclusion of NFTs or cryptocurrency, which could jeopardize the community’s integrity, Folmann replied, “100 percent agree – not happening.”
Additionally, Nikolaj Nyholm, a notable figure from Denmark’s Dragon’s Den and a founder of the esports team Astralis, is also linked to Chosen. While Astralis struggles to find footing in the market, Nyholm’s role with Chosen appears to be that of founder and investor, possibly leveraging his esports experience for future ventures.
As the Nexux Mods community processes this transition, concerns persist regarding the influence of a company with a growth-focused agenda on one of gaming’s largest modding platforms. The new owners must navigate this responsibility while upholding the legacy established by Dark0ne, as the future direction remains uncertain.