"The Internet We Once Loved Is Gone": SteamDB Founders Announce The Community-Run Database Has Been Acquired By Nexus Mods' Owners

The community-managed backend database SteamDB has been acquired by Chosen, the parent company of Nexus Mods, ending 13 years of independent operation by its original founders. The acquisition was prompted by the founders' desire to step away from the project due to mounting exhaustion and the challenge of managing an increasingly demanding workload. Chosen, which acquired Nexus Mods in June of last year, intends to use the database to better monitor game updates from a modding perspective.

SteamDB co-founder xPaw explained that what began as a simple hobby project eventually expanded into a massive service utilized by players, developers, and publishers alike. However, this growth came with a significant personal cost. Managing the platform became equivalent to a full-time job, and the self-imposed workload eventually led to severe burnout. The co-founder noted that the changing landscape of the internet following the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of artificial intelligence further diminished his passion for the project.

Despite attempting to find a suitable team to take over the database a few years ago, xPaw was unable to identify a successor he felt confident in, leading him to continue running the site alone. As the Steam platform expanded with more games, players, and features, the mental burden of maintaining the database became unsustainable. Rather than allowing the platform to fade away or shutting it down entirely, the founders chose Nexus Mods and its parent company as the right partners to secure the site's future.

Victor Folmann, the CEO of Chosen, assured users that SteamDB will retain its name, branding, community, and distinct identity rather than being immediately absorbed into Nexus Mods. In the short term, visitors should expect no noticeable changes, as the site will preserve all of its existing features and data. To ensure a seamless transition of ownership, xPaw has agreed to continue working alongside the new owners over the next few months.

The primary changes will occur behind the scenes, transitioning the platform from a single-person operation to one supported by a fully funded team. Chosen plans to invest in better infrastructure, enhanced security, and improved scalability. This additional support is intended to help the team address long-standing updates, maintain the platform's browser extension, expand game coverage, and ensure the site is no longer dependent on a single individual's daily availability.

Historically, SteamDB has relied on donated Steam keys to track game files and depots. Under the new ownership, Chosen will begin directly purchasing keys for games that are not typically donated to the platform. While community contributions will remain vital for supporting specific titles, the database will no longer have to rely solely on donations to maintain its coverage.

Although the two platforms will remain separate for now, Folmann did not rule out closer integration in the future. Potential collaborations include helping SteamDB users discover modding communities, displaying database information on Nexus Mods, and utilizing SteamDB's version data to simplify the installation and maintenance of mods. Additionally, while the database will remain free to use, Chosen plans to explore non-intrusive monetization methods, such as partnerships, integrations, and publisher affiliate links, rather than relying on standard website advertisements.