“It’s been a regular source of anxiety.” In a shock to PC gamers, the creator of Nexus Mods, user Dark0ne, is leaving the legendary modding hub after nearly 24 years at the helm. The iconic portal, home to a staggering 72,000-plus Skyrim mods and millions more for other games, now faces a future without its founder’s daily oversight as he steps away to focus on his own well-being.

If you’ve ever downloaded a mod for your favorite PC game, odds are you’ve ended up on Nexus Mods. The site has long been the backbone of the PC modding world, amassing an immense catalog that transformed how we play, tweak, and expand games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Now, after more than two decades of tireless management, Dark0ne has announced his retirement—a decision that has sent ripples through the gaming community.

Dark0ne, in a heartfelt farewell message, reflected on the immense impact the site has had and outlined what comes next. There are no immediate changes for modders or users, but the news has set off debates about how the site’s culture, moderation, and direction may evolve. “After almost 24 years running Nexus Mods, the time has come for me to retire from the day-to-day management of the portal. This is not a decision I have made lightly – far from it – but one that I believe is in my best interest and for the community.”

The site began humbly back in 2001 as a place to host Morrowind mods, far removed from the business it would eventually become. “I didn’t set it up to build a business, I just wanted to form a place where modders could share their work without worrying about it fading to the network either because a fansite disabled its servers or because a distributor decided to end it. That idea evolved and became Nexus Mods.”

“Since then, the web has been my entire adult life. Every day, for more than two decades, I’ve been ‘available,’ whether it was fixing problems, reading feedback, releasing updates, or diving into the latest community drama. It’s been rewarding, sometimes chaotic, often strenuous, and always personal. Somewhere along the way, I forgot to step back and breathe, or sleep properly. The dilemma of running a great social network that does not rest!”

Years of overseeing a sprawling site took their toll. “Work stress has been a common source of anxiety and stress-related health problems. I realized that I had been burning out and this started to have an impact on my team and Nexus Mods in general. So I firmly believe that the best thing for the future of Nexus Mods is to step aside and bring in new leaders who will drive the business forward with renewed energy, to make Nexus Mods the modding community we all deserve.”

According to Dark0ne, the new leadership team—Foledinho (Victor) and Rapsak (Marinus)—share his passion and vision for the community. “They have deep roots in gaming, technology, and most importantly, they care about the site, the community, and the future we’re trying to build here. They have my full confidence and I am incredibly proud to add them to our team.”

While Nexus Mods’ operations are expected to continue unchanged, the gaming world is watching closely, with ongoing discussions about moderation and the acceptance (or rejection) of certain mods. Some users have long complained about what they perceive as heavy-handed censorship, especially regarding mods deemed offensive or discriminatory. The hope is that new leadership might signal a different approach, but for now, it’s business as usual at Nexus Mods.

As for Dark0ne, he’s not disappearing. The founder plans to stay active in the Discord server, forums, and ongoing debates, while supporting the new team to ensure the site remains a pillar of the modding scene for years to come.

Source: 3djuegos