Nexus Mods' new ownership addresses concerns about monetary strategies, promising minimal intrusive revenue generation to alleviate member worries.
Nexus Mods Ownership Change Sparks Controversy
In a surprising turn of events, Nexus Mods' founder, Robin "Dark0ne" Scott, announced the sale of the popular PC game modding website yesterday. The news, shared on the official Nexus Mods news blog, has sparked 550+ comments and widespread speculation about the site's future under new management.
While the post itself kept the identity of the buyers under wraps, savvy members of the Resetera forum made quick work of uncovering the truth. Using clues dropped by Scott, like "Foledinho (Victor)," Rapsak (Marinus)," and "Taagen (Nikolai)," they detected a company called Chosen as the new owners. It's now confirmed by Foledinho (aka Victor Folmann) in a pinned comment added to Scott's original news post. Interestingly, Foledinho now boasts a prominent "Site Owner" tag under their name.
Who is 'Chosen' and what does this acquisition mean for Nexus Mods?
Chosen's background remains a mystery to many, but some have speculated that their focus lies in scaling and monetizing businesses for long-term growth. Given the worrying signs sparked by previous ownership changes in the modding community, this news leaves many users with valid concerns.
Chosen's new leadership team consists of Victor Folmann, Marinus, and Nikolai. All three can be found on Chosen's LinkedIn page. Though Chosen's website reveals little about their business model, one noticeable link from Folmann's (aka Foledinho) LinkedIn page raises eyebrows: a post from seven months ago detailing a strategy for monetizing a gaming startup.
Given the tight-knit community that Nexus Mods has always been, some worry that these new owners could upend the site's long-standing policies and negatively impact its members. However, Chosen has yet to formally introduce themselves and share their vision for Nexus Mods.
Addressing Users' Concerns - Chosen Steps In
In response to mounting concerns within the Nexus Mods community, Chosen has attempted to alleviate worries by taking a Question & Answer approach, focusing on the most pressing issues users have raised. Though the promotion of additional ads or paid memberships haven't been explicitly ruled out, Chosen's representatives have reassured the community that their primary goal remains preserving the platform's core features and fostering an environment that benefits mod authors and gamers alike.
In the interim, we encourage all Nexus Mods users to voice their concerns and share their thoughts about the site's future under Chosen's ownership. It's crucial that the new management listens to the community and preserves the unique atmosphere that has played a key role in the site's success over the past 24 years.
Where do you stand on the change of management at Nexus Mods? Do you have any concerns regarding the new owners? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Footnotes:
- Chosen's previous ventures include scaling and monetizing businesses for long-term growth, preferably in the gaming and technology sector, as indicated by Folmann's strategy post for a gaming startup on LinkedIn.
- Microsoft, in its pursuit of expanding its gaming gadgets lineup and enhancing its Windows 11 gaming features, could potentially be interested in merging Nexus Mods with its existing services.
- The acquisition of Nexus Mods may lead to increased collaboration between Microsoft and Chosen, given the compatibility of mods with Xbox games and Windows PC.
- The finance department of Chosen could explore Microsoft's Advertising business platform to monetize the platform through ads and partnerships, thus generating revenue for the new owners.
- With Chosen's focus on long-term growth, they may explore business opportunities in the broader technology sector, potentially branching out beyond gaming mods and seeking opportunities in mobile and hardware markets, as well.
