It’s the end of an era at Nexus Mods, but its community-first spirit isn’t going anywhere, says founder Dark0ne.
After shaping the landscape of PC game modding for nearly a quarter of a century, the founder of Nexus Mods is stepping back from day-to-day operations. Robin ‘Dark0ne’ Scott, who created the site in 2001 from his bedroom with nothing more than a 56k modem and a passion for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, has announced that the platform will now be led by new hands.
Posting on the Nexus Mods website on 16 June (Monday), he said that “This isn't a decision I've made lightly, far from it, but one I think is in both my and the community's best interests.”
His departure marks a pivotal moment for Nexus Mods, the world’s largest modding site and a cornerstone of the PC gaming community. With over 10 billion downloads, millions of users, and a legacy of supporting creators and modders alike, the platform has become an integral part of how players experience and personalise their games.
Robin Scott says Nexus Mods will stay community-first as he exits daily operations
Despite its success, Dark0ne admitted the burden of maintaining the site had taken a toll on his personal health. “The stress of the job has been a regular source of anxiety and stress-related health issues,” he said. “I realised that I have been burning out and this started to have an impact on my staff and Nexus Mods as a whole.” After years of being constantly “on call,” Dark0ne believes the best decision is to step aside and allow fresh leadership to move the platform forward.
The transition comes with a change in ownership, although Dark0ne was clear that this wasn't a corporate sale. “This isn’t some corporate ‘exit’ or a backroom deal. This is me doing something I probably should’ve done years ago: taking care of myself,” he explained. He emphasised that the site’s community-first ethos and commitment to mod authors will remain unchanged.
Long-time staff and contributors will continue their work as usual. Dark0ne highlighted the efforts of the current 40-person team, many of whom have been with the platform for close to a decade. “They live and breathe modding, they care deeply, they’re experienced, committed, and they’re very much still here. None of that is changing.”
New Nexus Mods leadership aims to maintain stability and support the modding community
Dark0ne said that “Leadership now falls to Foldeinho and Rapsak”, who he described were two figures with “deep ties to gaming and technology”, who Dark0ne said "give a damn; about the site, the community, and the future we’re trying to build here."
While he’ll no longer be managing operations directly, Scott isn’t leaving the Nexus entirely. He’ll remain involved behind the scenes, contributing to the site’s direction and staying active in community spaces. “I’ll still be annoying people on the Mod Author Discord, lurking on the forums, and sticking my nose into community matters when I can’t help myself,” he said.
For Nexus Mods users, the experience is expected to remain familiar. Scott's departure signifies a personal shift rather than a platform overhaul, and the new leadership appears set to carry forward the site’s core vision into its next era.
