Nexus Mods' New Owner Sparks Outcry Over Potential NFT and Crypto Integration

Nexus Mods, a prominent modding website, recently announced a change in ownership, leading to significant user concern. The new owner, identified as Chosen, a company co-founded by Victor Folmann and Marinus Elgaard, has come under scrutiny due to past discussions by Folmann regarding NFTs and cryptocurrency in gaming monetization.

Nexus Mods Under New Ownership

Nexus Mods founder Robin 'Dark0ne' Scott announced his departure, citing stress and anxiety as reasons for selling the platform. The new owners were initially kept anonymous, sparking immediate apprehension within the modding community. Through community-led investigation, particularly on ResetEra, the new owner was identified as Chosen, a company founded in January 2025.

Chosen's Business Model and User Concerns

Chosen's stated mission is to "partner with founders to help scale what they’ve built—amplifying their impact, supporting their team and culture, and ensuring the business thrives for the long term." The company focuses on user-generated content (UGC) platforms, aiming to increase profitability. However, their website's use of corporate jargon like "uncompromised growth" and "scaling businesses while preserving their vision and value" has raised eyebrows.

The NFT and Crypto Controversy

Central to the user backlash is a "Gaming startup monetization cheat sheet" created by Chosen co-founder Victor Folmann. This document, posted seven months prior to the acquisition, listed NFTs and cryptocurrency as "Top Tools for Monetization." This discovery immediately triggered alarm bells among Nexus Mods users, who fear the integration of such technologies into the platform.

• Folmann has since responded to these concerns, stating, "100% agree — not happening," in reference to NFTs and crypto being added to Nexus Mods.

• Despite this reassurance, many users remain skeptical, with some expressing sentiments of feeling "slimy" after reviewing Folmann's monetization strategies.

Community Reaction and Future Outlook

The modding community, particularly on platforms like Reddit, has voiced strong opposition to potential monetization changes. Concerns include:

• Increased aggressive monetization.

• Potential for paid mods.

• Changes to download speeds or limits.

• Removal of modder payments.

Chosen's co-founders, including Folmann and Elgaard, along with Nikolaj Nyholm, have stated that they do not plan to charge for mods or revoke lifetime premium subscriptions. They also claim to be aiming for "fewer ads, not more." However, the initial lack of transparency regarding the new ownership and the subsequent revelations about Folmann's past discussions on monetization have created a climate of distrust. The situation continues to unfold as users closely monitor the new management's actions.

Sources

• Nexus Mods' new owner is a company whose co-founder has already had to reassure folks that NFTs and cryptoaren't incoming, Rock Paper Shotgun.

• Nexus Mods New Owners May Be Monetization Specialists That Recommends NFTs, TheGamer.