The Chosen Nexus Mods sale has already sent shockwaves through the modding community. The initial secrecy surrounding the acquisition, coupled with the discovery of that infamous "Gaming Startup Monetization Cheat Sheet," has rightly triggered alarm bells. This is the statute I introduced above, we’re literally discussing a document that calls out NFTs and other invasive monetization strategies by name. Let's be clear: the community's fear of predatory microtransactions and the potential "NFT-ification" of mods is completely justified.
Corporate Greed vs Modder Freedom?
For many years, Nexus Mods has been a community creative commons, a monument to the spirit and inspiration of modders. At its best, it was fueled by a punk rock ethos of DIY community building and open source sharing. Now, that foundation feels threatened. The question isn't just about whether Chosen will force us to pay for mods (they claim they won't, for now), but about the underlying philosophy driving this acquisition. Does it prioritize profit over community? Does it treat modders as valued creators, or just as a source of free content to be mined?
This feels all too familiar. We’ve watched this play out in the music world where streaming platforms have decimated artists’ livelihood. And we’ve experienced it firsthand in the gaming industry itself, with loot boxes and pay-to-win mechanics. Are we doomed to make the same errors of the real world in the realm of modding? Think about the indie game developers. They find it difficult to get their games to stand out, and we don’t want the modders to have to face that same thing either.
Web3 Savior or Empty Hype?
What if Web3, with all its baggage and hype, could actually offer a genuine solution to the problem of mod monetization? The original vision for Web3 was a shift toward decentralization, creator empowerment, and community ownership. The dream became to disintermediate the middleman. This would allow independent creators to truly cut out the middlemen and retain full ownership of their work and revenues.
Now, picture a Nexus Mods DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization). The community itself manages the platform, votes on key decisions, and distributes revenue to mod creators based on their contributions. Or consider social tokens: modders could issue their own tokens to reward supporters, incentivize contributions, and even fund future projects. We might even be able to leverage Web3-based crowdfunding platforms to directly sponsor the creation of specific mods.
This isn't some utopian fantasy. Yet DAOs are becoming increasingly important tools for managing communities or organizing resources online. Social tokens are already creating waves for artists and creators across industries. The technology exists. But how do we make the most of it while benefiting the modding community? Let’s protect it as we should by using it smarter, not ripping and running.
Southeast Asia's Creative Renaissance?
I'm writing to you from Southeast Asia, a region brimming with creative talent that often struggles to find adequate support and recognition. Common monetization models are often insufficient at best. At worst they’re predatory in nature and leave artists and creators open to opportunistic exploitation. This might be where Web3 can have the most tangible impact.
Imagine the street artists of Bangkok, the independent musicians of Jakarta, the game developers of Kuala Lumpur. These people are largely working outside of established institutions, using their own creativity and resourcefulness to get things done. Web3 creates amazing new economic opportunities for them. It provides new, direct-to-their-fans business models that cut out middlemen and let artists make a living from their work – transparently, equitably and without favoritism.
Let's not be naive. The Web3 space has become notorious for scams, rug pulls, environmental harm. NO MORE SPECULATIVE BUBBLES NFTs have been weaponized against artists to exploit them and create speculative bubbles. We need to be vigilant and responsible. It’s time to put community oversight in the driver’s seat. Communities and governments support creators and users, so we need to build Web3 technologies that benefit creators and users—not the companies.
It's not just about the money. It’s not just about preventing copyright infringement. It’s about building a healthy ecosystem where modders are supported, creativity is cultivated, and the creative community flourishes.
Build A Better Future Together!
The future of Nexus Mods is uncertain. One thing is clear: the community has a powerful voice. Don’t allow the new Chosen to set the agenda in this discussion. Explore alternative Web3 models. Engage in the rulemaking process to support a system that creates more opportunities for creators, while serving the public good. Demand transparency and accountability.
This isn't just about Nexus Mods. Most fundamentally, it’s about the future of online communities, and the role that technology can—or should—play in supporting creativity. Let’s work together to create that better future, one where modders are recognized for their creativity and contributions, rather than exploited for profit. Let's start now. The time for action is now.
