Why I take a break from modding
Modding is supposed to be fun.
I don’t remember exactly who said these words, but they are deeply burned into my memory. Yes, modding is supposed to be fun. Unfortunately, times have changed. Let me be completely frank: the debate surrounding AI has poisoned the climate across the entire modding community. I am well aware that there are people who will immediately pillory you the moment you even mention the topic. This is exactly why I stopped publishing for now, as things began to escalate. I have been on a break from creating mods since July 2026*. I cannot say if or when I will return. Time will tell.
* At the end of June 2026, I published the second beta version of Bond of Friendship on GitHub. It’s a Swiss Army knife for traveling with followers for Skyrim Special Edition. Although development is currently on pause, I still welcome feedback for future reference.
A bitter milestone
On November 4th, I reached my 20th anniversary on Nexus Mods. It is truly saddening that I am “celebrating” two decades on the platform with a statement like this. In a bitter twist of coincidence, I didn’t even realize it was my anniversary until today. It’s exactly one day after I sat down and wrote the shorter Nexus profile version of this text.
And since I am being completely transparent here, I want to share one more detail: I actually used an AI to help me phrase and polish this very text. Given how deeply polarized the community has become over this subject, using the technology itself to announce my (possible) departure feels highly ironic. Yet, it perfectly illustrates my stance: it can be a valuable tool for language and communication when used responsibly.
Clarifications & looking ahead
My issue is not with the requirement to disclose AI usage itself. Transparency is perfectly fine. The real problem lies in the arbitrary enforcement and unpredictability of the moderation of Nexus Mods. The way rules are handled feels increasingly inconsistent, a prime example of which can be seen here.
Overall, Nexus Mods has evolved in a direction that no longer feels positive or healthy. I simply do not feel welcome on the platform anymore.
Because of this, I have made a few decisions regarding my work:
- Old mods will remain: My existing mods will stay up on Nexus Mods so that players who rely on them can still access them. I will not delete my legacy work.
- New home for future projects: If or when I decide to create and release new mods, they will very likely not be published on Nexus Mods. Instead, they will appear right here on Selene’s Shadow Realm and/or on GitHub.
A good example of this new direction is Bond of Friendship, which is already hosted entirely on GitHub. Taking this step away from the mainstream platforms allows me to focus purely on the creative side of the hobby again – whenever I am ready to return to it.
