For some time now, major game mod hosting platforms like ModDB, Nexus Mods, and GameBanana have blatantly protected specific political narratives on their services. These platforms actively target “problematic” game modifications uploaded by independent creators, particularly those that challenge certain themes or offend vocal social media activists.
The double standard of these platforms became glaringly obvious following the release of a subtle mod for Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered. This mod replaced pride flags with American flags, sparking outrage across social media resulting in Nexus Mods and other hosting services responding in kind.
The mod was swiftly banned, labeled as “vile” and “reprehensible.” The platforms went as far as to publicly pledge their unwavering commitment to upholding “diversity and inclusivity” in gaming, aggressively banning any mods perceived as disrupting the preferred ideological status quo.
This led to instances where mod hosting platforms banned game mods designed to remove the character pronoun selection in titles such as Starfield. Similarly, mods aiming to bypass unnecessary disclaimers, such as those in the Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered collection, which warn players that themes and depictions from decades-old games were “inexcusably racist,” “offensive,” or otherwise “socially unacceptable” were also targeted.
Nexus Mods, in particular, has shown unwavering support for game developers who retroactively censor their titles. A notable example involves Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, where censorship was applied years after release by altering Tifa’s cowboy outfit.
When a mod was created to restore the original design, effectively downgrading the game to a previous version, Nexus Mods swiftly banned it, reinforcing their stance against user-created content that counters developer-enforced changes.
One of the most glaring issues with these mod hosting platforms lies in their inconsistent handling of racial character modifications. The very purpose of game modding, allowing players to customize and personalize the games they own is undermined by these platforms’ selective enforcement of what is deemed “acceptable.”
While mods that race-swap characters from White to Black are widely permitted and even praised, attempts to do the reverse are swiftly condemned as “incomprehensibly racist.”
This hypocrisy extends beyond race. In narrative-heavy games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, which explore mature themes like romance and sexuality, users have faced bans for mods that alter same-sex relationships into heterosexual ones.
For instance, a mod for Baldur’s Gate 3 that transformed a same-sex romance with Aylin into a heterosexual relationship was removed. Similarly, mods for Cyberpunk 2077 that allow players to pursue Judy as a male protagonist, reversing CDPR’s enforced lesbian storyline, have also been banned, while mods that push in the opposite direction are celebrated as “artistic freedom” and “sexual expression.”
Rather than promoting true inclusivity or respecting creative freedom, Nexus Mods has taken it a step further, by removing a mod that depicted Donald Trump as Captain America in Marvel Rivals, a free-to-play title, further illustrating their ideological bias.
Game mods come in all varieties, nude mods, model swaps, graphical enhancements, difficulty tweaks, full-blown expansions, and everything in between. Some are lighthearted and goofy, while others take a more serious approach.
This particular mod, for example, humorously slaps Donald J. Trump’s face onto Captain America, delivering a cheeky nod to the idea of Trump as a national hero. The mod celebrates his re-election as U.S. president and his survival of an assassination attempt, framing him as a larger-than-life figure worthy of superhero status.
The mod, simply titled “Trump as Captain America,“ was uploaded on January 2nd but was swiftly banned by Nexus Mods just hours later. The ban was so immediate and thorough that no archived page of the mod exists. A reupload on January 6th met the same fate, as Nexus Mods doubled down on their decision to remove it.
Unlike the usual double standards often seen on popular mod hosting platforms, where mods “erasing” same-sex relationships or altering character designs to suit personal preferences are scrutinized unless they align with specific narratives (e.g., making characters Black instead of White) this instance was framed differently.
The Trump as Captain America mod was banned alongside a “Replace Captain America with Biden“ mod, both allegedly violating Nexus Mods’ policies on “neutrality and divisive content.”
In this rare case, Nexus Mods displayed a kind of “equality” in enforcement albeit through their typically pedantic approach, managing to be equally retarded and restrictive across the board.
To justify their actions, Nexus Mods implemented a ban on “political mods” in 2020, citing the need to reduce inflammatory content and prevent what they consider “low-effort” uploads that detract from the platform’s core purpose: enhancing gaming experiences and providing escapism.
Despite this policy, politically charged mods continue to surface frequently. Nexus Mods has reiterated that their platform is meant for sharing creative content rather than serving as a battleground for divisive political debates. The ban specifically targets mods “deliberately designed to incite or antagonize,” with enforcement applied regardless of the political alignment of the content in question.
On Reddit, Nexus Mods owner DarkOne bluntly explained the reasoning behind removing two political mods, pointing out that those upset over the removal of the Trump mod failed to notice that the Biden mod was also taken down. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about the one-in-a-million chance that Nexus Mods were actually impartial; the issue lies in the fact that both mods were removed.
But, of course, the owner of a platform that only tolerates creative liberties as long as they don’t clash with their own extreme views has the audacity to label those frustrated by the selective banning of mods as “nutjobs.”
This was intended to showcase neutrality, yet Nexus Mods’ enforcement of their policy against “antagonistically political” content has been anything but consistent. Ironically, the platform has long been banning mods that sought to depoliticize games, such as those removing mandatory gender pronoun options or reverting “body type” labels back to male and female terminology.
Once again, Nexus Mods positions itself as a progressive platform with standards that are only double. Anything conflicting with TheDarkOne’s worldview suspiciously faces the chopping block, whether it’s mods removing political symbols like gay pride flags in Spider-Man or mods expanding in-game romance options by removing same-sex gender restrictions.
Fortunately, as mainstream platforms like Nexus Mods reveal themselves as bastions of progressive gatekeeping, alternative platforms such as ModHQ, DEG Mods, Based Mods, and Lax Mods have risen to prominence. These platforms provide safe havens for “problematic” mods that Nexus Mods and others have shunned, allowing gamers to truly customize their experiences without ideological interference.
By prioritizing freedom of expression and creativity over political correctness, platforms like ModHQ, DEG Mods, Based Mods, and Lax Mods are carving out spaces where modders can share and explore ideas without fear of censorship.
Whether it’s restoring traditional game elements, removing unwanted political content, enforced diversity or simply offering mods that mainstream sites deem too offensive and “problematic,” these platforms ensure that players can tailor their gaming experiences however they see fit.
As Nexus Mods and similar platforms continue to alienate segments of their user base, these alternatives stand ready to fill the gap, proving that modding culture thrives best when unshackled from ideological gatekeeping.
