Nexus Mods, one of the largest modding platforms in the world, has announced it will implement a stricter age verification system for users located in the United Kingdom and European Union. The decision comes in response to recent legal changes aimed at improving online safety and restricting access to adult content by minors.
Driven by New Laws
The upcoming verification requirement is a direct result of regulatory changes, including the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act. These laws compel online platforms to take stronger measures in protecting minors from adult material, particularly sexually explicit content.
To comply, Nexus Mods will require UK and EU users to undergo a more robust age verification process if they want to access mods tagged as adult content. While the platform has not yet revealed the exact form of this verification, it is expected to go beyond a simple age confirmation checkbox and may involve third-party identity verification services.
Who It Affects
The new policy will only impact users in the UK and EU who have adult content enabled in their account preferences. Users outside these regions will still access adult mods the same way they always have — by confirming they are 18 or older in their profile settings.
Regular content on Nexus Mods, including gameplay tweaks, bug fixes, and visual enhancements, will remain accessible without additional verification.
Privacy and Community Concerns
The announcement has sparked frustration among long-time users, many of whom are concerned about privacy implications and potential data misuse. The idea of uploading identification or going through third-party verification to access mods — often for single-player games — is seen by some as excessive.
Others worry that this might set a precedent for future restrictions, gradually eroding the open and anonymous nature that has defined modding communities for decades.
When Is It Happening?
While no exact rollout date has been given, Nexus Mods confirmed that the age verification system is coming “soon.” Users in affected regions should expect changes within the coming months, particularly as regulatory enforcement ramps up.
What You Can Do Now
For now, users in the UK and EU can still access adult content by enabling it in their account preferences. However, once verification goes live, failing to complete the new process will block access to all adult-tagged content on the site.
Users outside the UK and EU are not required to take any action and will continue to access content as normal.
