Nexus Mods, a popular modding platform, finds itself at the center of a heated debate after removing over 500 user-submitted modifications for the game Marvel Rivals in a single month. The controversy ignited when mods replacing Captain America's head with images of Joe Biden and Donald Trump were taken down.
Nexus Mods' owner, TheDarkOne, clarified the situation on Reddit, stating that both mods were removed simultaneously to prevent accusations of political bias. TheDarkOne's statement, however, was met with unexpected backlash.
"We removed the Biden mod concurrently with the Trump mod to remain impartial. Yet, surprisingly, YouTube commentators remain silent on this aspect," TheDarkOne commented.
The situation escalated further when TheDarkOne revealed receiving numerous threats following the removals.
"We're currently facing death threats, being labeled pedophiles, and enduring a barrage of insults, all because someone chose to escalate this issue," TheDarkOne added.
This isn't the first time Nexus Mods has faced criticism over mod removals. A similar incident occurred in 2022, involving a Spider-Man Remastered mod that replaced rainbow flags. At the time, the platform publicly defended its decision, emphasizing its commitment to inclusivity and its policy against discriminatory content.
TheDarkOne concluded by stating, "We won't engage with those who find this decision objectionable."