Nexus Mods Introduces Age Verification and Content Safeguards for UK and EU Users to Comply With New Online Safety Laws
Nexus Mods has announced a series of sweeping changes to its platform for users in the United Kingdom and European Union, driven by compliance requirements under the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The changes mark the first major policy shift following the website’s change in ownership earlier this year, after founder Dark0ne sold the platform after 24 years of independent operation.
Age Verification Is Coming – Details Still Unclear
Among the most significant updates is the announcement that age verification will soon be required for UK and EU users seeking access to mature and adult content. While Nexus Mods reaffirmed that adult content will remain available, the site must now implement measures to ensure compliance with child safety mandates.
“Adult content is a core part of what makes Nexus Mods what it is; we don’t consider removing it a viable option,” the platform stated. “However, we are obligated to do this to ensure we can continue to host adult content legally.”
The exact mechanism for age verification is still under review. Whether it will be as simple as a checkbox or as stringent as uploading a government-issued ID remains undecided. The concern among users centers around data privacy, ID storage, and user anonymity, with many expressing unease over how their personal information might be handled under stricter verification protocols.
Combatting “Illegal Content” Under New Laws
In addition to age gating, Nexus Mods is updating its Terms of Service to explicitly define what constitutes illegal content under UK and EU law, reinforcing that materials such as child sexual abuse content are strictly prohibited. Although such content has always been banned, the new ownership is emphasizing a clearer and legally aligned stance in light of upcoming regulatory scrutiny.
To this end, the platform is also introducing automated detection tools to flag and remove any uploaded mods that might contain prohibited content. Offending creators will not only be banned but also reported to law enforcement, including the UK’s National Crime Agency.
New Adult Content Tagging System
As part of a broader overhaul of how mature and sensitive content is categorized, Nexus Mods will introduce 10 new content tags that will only be visible to age-verified users in the UK and EU. These tags are:
Body stigma
Depression
Eating disorders
Extreme violence
Harmful substances
Pornographic
Self-harm
Sexualized
Suicide
Swearing or profanity
Users will be able to filter content visibility based on tags, offering both control and transparency over what they choose to view. This system does not affect creators' ability to tag their own mods or users' ability to vote on tags.
A Necessary Move, Not a Voluntary Shift
While these changes are extensive, Nexus Mods has clarified that they are driven entirely by legal requirements, not internal policy changes initiated by the new owners. Former founder Dark0ne, who appeared in the comment section of the announcement, confirmed that even if he were still in charge, these exact changes would have occurred in 2025 under pressure from UK and EU law.
“You can be worried or angry with the direction the internet is taking and the amount of control governments are enforcing on it around the world,” wrote Dark0ne, “but the law is the law, and Nexus Mods will, and must, follow the law.”
Community Reactions and Concerns
The community response has been mixed. While users largely agree with the principles of child protection and removal of illegal content, many remain wary of how age verification will be implemented, and what it might mean for data security, especially in the context of a modding site that many value for its openness and anonymity.
With no firm timeline yet for the rollout of these changes, Nexus Mods has committed to transparency and promises to update users once a final approach is determined.
How do you feel about age verification becoming a requirement for modding platforms? Should privacy be sacrificed for legal compliance, or is there a better solution? Share your perspective in the comments.
