Latest news with #NexusMods
Business Insider
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Video game mods are wildly popular — and it's easier than ever for modders to turn their hobby into a career
Ironically, the more popular a video game is, the more effort fans invest in changing it. The International Trade Administration valued the video game industry at $184 billion globally in 2023. As it continues to grow, user-created game modifications — more often called mods — are rising in popularity, too. Mods are files or code inserted into a game to add new features, alter the graphics, or improve performance. Nexus Mods, one of the web's most popular mod-sharing platforms, told Business Insider that the website has added about 40 million users since 2020, and now hosts mods for nearly 4,000 different games. While mods are traditionally released for free and created solely out of passion, many players use their modding projects and skills to get jobs in the video gaming industry. And with the rise of the creator economy — a $250 billion industry based around independent creators who deliver content directly to their audiences — a growing number of modders are turning their hobby from a career starting point into a lucrative stand-alone business as well. Modding can build skills for game development jobs Modding requires skills, like coding and project management, that can be vital for professional programming and game design jobs. Liam Esler, managing director and cofounder of Summerfall Studios, started modding the simulation game "Creatures" when he was 10 years old, creating new biomes with unique plants and animals. By age 15, he was managing modding teams across the world. Modding taught Esler how to code and let him practice skills, such as 3D modeling, art, and sound design. "It was a really incredible introduction to the world of making video games," he said. Around this time, he also began modding the role-playing game "Baldur's Gate II," which later led him to apply for a volunteer quality assurance role helping to test the 2012 remaster of the original "Baldur's Gate" before release. He then turned this gig into a full-time developer job for the sequel, "Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition." Modding "Baldur's Gate II" helped Esler master the Infinity Engine scripting language, which the "Baldur's Gate" games were built with. It was a niche skill, but one that paid off. "I basically sent them an email saying, 'Look, I'm an expert in these things. I suspect you're going to need those skill sets.' And they sent me a contract two days later. I had the skills and all of that thanks to modding." Several of his employees at Summerfall Studios are former modders as well. "A lot of them have seen 'behind the curtain' as gamers," he said. "I find, as someone who hires, it's such a critically underappreciated skillset." For modders applying to game studios, he recommended building a varied portfolio of both mods and short games, and emphasizing to hiring managers "that you can learn new engines, you can learn new skills, and you can practice all the things you've learned in a different context. That's the thing that's going to get you hired." Websites like Patreon let modders monetize their work Some modders prefer to be their own boss, and monetization platforms like Patreon have given them ways to accept donations directly from players to support their craft. In return, modders can offer their patrons perks, including early access to new mods. Asking for donations instead of mandatory payments lets modders profit without violating most games' end-user license agreements, giving them the freedom to focus on the hobby they love. Ilja Jusupov, the third biggest creator on Patreon, started out by modding the shooting game "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl," adding texture packs and menus to configure other mods. He already had some programming experience, but modding is what turned it into a career. A few years later, after he started making mods for the racing game "Assetto Corsa," he put his projects on Patreon, where he's since found success. Jusupov's Patreon brings in nearly $50,000 a month, which he attributes to the passionate fan base for "Assetto Corsa" and the consistency of his work. Jusupov said the most challenging parts of running a successful Patreon as a modder are consistently preparing new updates to satisfy subscribers and responding to the feedback those subscribers give without sacrificing independence. "We wouldn't want to create an impression that we're not addressing our patrons' demands, but also still want to pursue new horizons and bring something new on a semi-regular basis," he said. For other modders looking to find independent success, he recommended targeting "niche" games and taking on projects that you're passionate about. "A modification for 'GTA 5' would guarantee a large user base, but I imagine something smaller could have a lot more unsolved demands users would love to find a solution to." Viktor "NSGolova" Radulov, a Ukrainian modder for the virtual reality rhythm game "Beat Saber," similarly said creators should "focus on helping players first and monetize later. If people are happy with your mods, they'll be happy to donate." Radulov's Patreon projects, which include mods to add cosmetics and a leaderboard to the game, earn him over $4,500 a month. He began his programming career developing add-ons for Mac and iOS, and his interest in "Beat Saber" led him to take on modding as a hobby. While modding is currently a side hustle for him, he hopes to eventually turn modding into his sole career. Other monetization platforms include Ko-fi and Nexus Mods. The latter lets modders earn "Donation Points" that can be redeemed for gifts or cash. Nexus Mods told BI that it has paid out over $12 million to its top creators since 2018. Some modders, like Dream and DougDoug, create content as well, using platforms like YouTube and Twitch to upload videos showcasing their mods, which can also earn them money. "Modding forces you to learn a huge variety of skill sets, but the most important of these is 'just work it out,'" Esler said. "You don't have the virtue of an engineering team who can make new features or update existing ones, so you have to work out how to work within the confines of what's already there to make something new."
The Verge
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Verge
it turns out that Nexus Mods is
Jay Peters A little more about the Nexus Mods news. As reported by , now owned by a company called Chosen that, on its website, advertises itself as a better option than venture capital or private equity. In a pinned comment on yesterday's blog post, it sounds like the new owners generally want to keep the site the same, but they acknowledge that building trust 'takes time.' Nexus Mods' new owners promise they won't monetise the site to death as users panic at the whiff of venture capital: 'The new owners are here… not sitting in a distant tower, remotely directing us all towards some nefarious goals' [
The Verge
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
PC modding repository Nexus Mods has a new owner
Nexus Mods, a website known for hosting mods for thousands of PC games, has been handed over to new ownership, according to former owner Robin 'Dark0ne' Scott. 'After months of meetings, face-to-face talks, and a whole lot of soul searching, I am thrilled to say that I truly believe I have found the exact right people for the task,' Scott says in a post published on Monday. Scott, who launched the project in 2001, says that the site 'has been my entire adult life' and that 'the strain of being responsible for the behemoth I created' had taken a toll. He realized he had been burning out and that he needed to bring in new leadership. Scott didn't specify who the new owner or owners are, and the company didn't immediately reply to a request for comment sent to its support email address. However, users will be seeing more of two people, who Scott identifies as ' Foledinho (Victor)' and ' Rapsak (Marinus),' as they have 'come on board to lead this next chapter,' Scott says. 'They've got deep roots in gaming, tech, and most importantly, they give a damn; about the site, the community, and the future we're trying to build here.' While the site has changed hands, Scott says that 'this isn't some corporate 'exit' or a backroom deal.' Instead, 'this is me doing something I probably should've done years ago: taking care of myself. Reclaiming some headspace. And finally letting go of the idea that I have to do everything and be responsible for everything myself.' Scott will also still be a presence. '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 says. And he'll work with the team to 'help guide the overall direction of the site.'
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
This is how astronomers have found universe's missing ordinary matter
Scientists have used fast radio bursts ( FRBs ) to detect normal matter that was previously missing from the universe. This matter is not dark matter but baryonic matter made of atoms. Ordinary Matter Hidden in Space For years, scientists searched for ordinary matter that should exist in the universe. This matter is not dark matter, which does not interact with light. Instead, it is normal atomic matter, also known as baryonic matter. It was missing from observation because it was thinly spread between galaxies. This matter lies in two main places. Some of it floats in the space between galaxies. The rest surrounds galaxies in large cloud-like halos. Until now, it could not be detected directly with telescopes. Also Read: Los Angeles Dodgers Vs San Diego Padres: Will Shohei Ohtani return as a starting pitcher? Here's game date, time, venue and how to watch on TV and stream, and prediction FRBs Reveal Matter in Intergalactic Medium Astronomers used fast radio bursts (FRBs) to locate this matter. FRBs are very short but powerful radio signals. They are produced far away in space. Some last only milliseconds but release as much energy as the sun does in decades. Live Events As these bursts travel through space, they pass through matter. That matter slows the signal. Scientists used this delay to measure how much material lies in the path. This method works even when the matter is too faint to see directly. Observations and Measurements The team used 69 FRBs with known distances from Earth. These signals came from as far as 9.1 billion light-years away. Most of these bursts were detected using a network of 110 radio telescopes at Caltech's Owens Valley Radio Observatory. Instruments in Hawaii and California helped measure how far the FRBs had traveled. Other bursts were found by Australia's ASKAP telescope network, which is good at locating FRBs. Also Read: Nexus Mods Sale: What is Nexus Mods and who is Dark0ne? Here's all details about new owners Findings The team found that 76% of ordinary matter is in the space between galaxies. About 15% is in halos around galaxies. The rest, about 9%, is inside galaxies. These results match what earlier computer models had predicted. This discovery helps scientists understand how galaxies form and grow. Future tools like the DSA-2000 telescope may detect more FRBs and improve these measurements. FAQs What are fast radio bursts (FRBs)? FRBs are short bursts of radio waves that release large amounts of energy. They last milliseconds and come from distant parts of the universe. Where is the missing ordinary matter found? Scientists found most missing matter in the intergalactic medium and galaxy halos using fast radio bursts as a detection tool.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nintendo Direct: Why Nintendo is holding this Direct? Here's livestream date, time, where to watch, runtime, and what we know about Donkey Kong Bananza release date, gameplay, game price, preorder and storyline
Nintendo will hold a new Nintendo Direct on June 18, 2025. The company will share more details about its upcoming game, Donkey Kong Bananza . The broadcast will highlight exclusive features and updates about the title. Nintendo Direct Livestream Date, Time, Where to Watch and Runtime Nintendo shared on its official X account that a new Nintendo Direct will take place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The livestream will begin at 9:00 AM ET / 6:00 AM PT. It will be streamed through Nintendo's official YouTube channel. The company mentioned the stream will run for 15 minutes. Also Read: Love Me: Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun starrer movie's streaming release date, storyline and where to watch Why Nintendo is holding this Direct? Nintendo confirmed that this Direct will focus only on Donkey Kong Bananza. The goal is to show more content from the upcoming title ahead of its release. Donkey Kong Bananza Release Date and Storyline Donkey Kong Bananza was announced on April 2, 2025. It will be released on July 17, 2025, for Nintendo's new gaming console. The game follows Donkey Kong in a new 3D platform adventure. He must collect banana-shaped diamonds from a group called VoidCo in an underground setting. Live Events Also Read: Nexus Mods Sale: What is Nexus Mods and who is Dark0ne? Here's all details about new owners Gameplay Footage from past showcases revealed Donkey Kong's movement abilities. He can smash, throw and climb objects in the environment. Images also hinted at a possible appearance by Pauline, sparking online theories. The upcoming Direct may provide clarity on her role in the story. Game Price and Preorder Donkey Kong Bananza will be priced at $69.99. Preorders are currently open. This title is the first new major Donkey Kong game since Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, which came out in 2014 on the Wii U. FAQs When will Donkey Kong Bananza be released? Donkey Kong Bananza will be released on July 17, 2025, for Nintendo's new console. What will the June 18 Nintendo Direct cover? The Nintendo Direct will focus only on Donkey Kong Bananza and last 15 minutes.
