SteamDB is acquired by Nexus Mods' owner after its founder says burnout made the site unsustainable

[midian182]

What just happened? SteamDB, the hugely popular third-party database and analytics website for Valve's platform, has been acquired by Chosen, the owner of Nexus Mods. SteamDB co-founder Pavel Djundik says that the partnership was a necessity as the work keeping the site running became unsustainable.

Djundik writes that he started SteamDB with fellow co-founder Marlamin back in 2013. As the site grew in popularity, so did the workload. Marlamin later stepped back from the project, and what was a hobby for Djundik now requires enough hours to be a full-time job.

"After COVID and with the rise of AI, the internet we once loved is gone, and with it my passion. I have started experiencing burnout with the project, but I powered through," he wrote.

Djundik tried to find someone to take over the project a few years ago, but he couldn't find anyone suitable, so he continued alone. However, more games being added to Steam meant more work, leading to burnout and an admission that he couldn't continue by himself.

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself by either just letting the site run as-is and letting it wither, or completely shut it down. In January, I started looking for a worthy partner that could continue the legacy that I had built," Djundik explained. Now, Nexus Mods owner Chosen has fulfilled that role.

Plenty of people are worried about what this will mean for SteamDB.

Victor Folmann, CEO of Chosen, said his company isn't going to change what makes SteamDB "special." It will instead offer the resources, team, and long-term stability it deserves, while building a sustainable foundation that allows continued investment, Folmann claimed.

"There will be things we want to improve and new things we want to build, but we'll do that thoughtfully," Folmann added.

An FAQ on the change confirms that SteamDB will be commercialized. This will apparently not involve ads, but it may include the use of partnerships, integrations, and affiliate links with publishers when users buy a game after visiting SteamDB.

It's emphasized that SteamDB will remain free to use and nothing currently on the site will be moved behind a paywall. There are also promises not to sell user data and for SteamDB to keep its identity.

Another section notes that integrating SteamDB's build and file-history data could help Nexus Mods identify installed game versions, flag incompatible mods, and warn users before a Steam update breaks their setup. It could also enable version pinning and verify installations against known clean game files, using data SteamDB already collects.

There will also be other occasions where SteamDB links up with Nexus Mods, such as a SteamDB game page showing that a game has a thriving modding scene, and a Nexus Mods game page showing live player stats.

Despite the acquisition being framed as good for everyone, it seems a lot of people are unhappy about it, noting some of the unpopular changes that have been introduced to Nexus Mods: a divisive site redesign, restrictions preventing mod authors from permanently deleting files, and the discontinuation of its multiplatform app in favor of Vortex. Many people also believe more aggressive forms of monetization are now inevitable for SteamDB.

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SteamDB is acquired by Nexus Mods' owner after its founder says burnout made the site unsustainable

 

[The Talking Tech]

"database will remain free and ad-free, though some monetization is planned"

The fact that it was sold it's just a matter of time until it eventually is fully monetized with ads and all.

Nobody is going to buy a platform without planning for maximum profit.

 

[winjer]

Now comes the enshitification of Steamdb.

 

[NumberNine]

I was just looking at SteamDB the other day, admiring the functionality and thinking "there's no way this can survive in such a useful state for much longer". Rather than seeking contributors for help, the creator decides to sell it to... NexusMods... Okay.

I'm sure someone else can do it better if it was truly a herculean effort by a single person, but yeah, burnout and the solution is to sell off? Weak.

 

[m4a4]

Considering how rotten Nexus Mods is, I don't see SteamDB staying neutral for long.

 

[vicsrealms]

Hopefully, the Lifetime Nexus membership I picked up before they dropped it will apply to SteamDB. I don't want to financially support Nexus in its current form, and ditto for SteamDB after they are done.

 

[psycros]

Great, now SteamDB's #1 job will be pushing the gay/trans agenda.

 

[NumberNine]

Great, now SteamDB's #1 job will be pushing the gay/trans agenda.

For profits nowadays will push whatever drives the numbers up. When people become more interested in another topic, that will be the only thing they care about. This and every other obsession will pass in time. Every month and social movement has a merchandise isle because no matter what you care about, the money must move.

They'll hook the sentiment, the anti-sentiment, and everything in between to sell. War is good for business.

 

[return]

Fk! Here comes the censorship.

 

[poshflamingos]

Great, now SteamDB's #1 job will be pushing the gay/trans agenda.

That's fantastic. Not only because gay and trans people deserve the support, but also because seeing how angry it makes people like you brings me immense joy.

 

[Tantor]

That's fantastic. Not only because gay and trans people deserve the support, but also because seeing how angry it makes people like you brings me immense joy.

It's abnormal to enjoy hurting normal people.

 

[axiomatic13]

Great, now SteamDB's #1 job will be pushing the gay/trans agenda.

Why? Seriously, you have a problem. Drop the hate man.

 

[poshflamingos]

It's abnormal to enjoy hurting normal people.

Homophobes and transphobes are not normal people.

 

[Skully]

Homophobes and transphobes are not normal people.

Just because you don't want an agenda pushed down your throat doesn't necessarily mean you're opposed to something, and it does not make the poster a Homophobe or a Transphobe.
Maybe they actually are, or maybe they're not, but for you to label them as such from such a simple comment just shows a very limited view and that you CHOSE to assume the worst.
I couldn't care less if someone is gay or trans but I don't want any agendas pushed on me either.

 

[poshflamingos]

Just because you don't want an agenda pushed down your throat doesn't necessarily mean you're opposed to something, and it does not make the poster a Homophobe or a Transphobe.

Nonsense. "Don't want an agenda pushed" is a conservative homophobe/transphobe dogwhistle. Only homophobes/transphobes think like that.

I am neither of those things, and there is no conceivable reason for me to oppose queer representation. It doesn't affect me negatively in any way whatsoever. The only reason I could possibly oppose it would be if I didn't like gay/trans people.

The fact that you refer to merely being reminded that those people exist as an "agenda", as if the idea that queer people deserve respect and inclusion could only possibly be some grand, organized conspiracy instead of simply normal people advocating for basic human decency, tells me everything I need to know about you (and the other commenter I replied to).

I couldn't care less if someone is gay or trans but I don't want any agendas pushed on me either.

Case in point. Anyone who actually doesn't mind others being gay or trans would never think of it as an "agenda". If you respond to simply being shown that queer people exist by arguing back that queer people should be hidden from view in society and media, like they're dregs that must be tucked away, I have news for you about whether you are a homophobe/transphobe.

 

[Skully]

Ahh, yes, the first and last ditch effort of someone out of their depth, they directly jump to political stances - "a conservative homophobe/transphobe dogwhistle". I knew this was coming before you even posted.

It's funny how some folks always bring these things back to politics where everyone must agree with their exact stance or they're the far left/right of whatever party you oppose. A bit sad really. Anyway, take care, I'm done with this.

 

[Antias]

Great, now SteamDB's #1 job will be pushing the gay/trans agenda.

Strange, what is this "agenda" you speak of?
I've not received any information regarding an "agenda" I'm supposed to promote.
I'm assuming as your on this website that your an intelligent person with integrity, so what your saying must be true... I simply must have missed the mail that day...
Of course it couldn't possibly be the money makers and/or an extreme super-minority element because you state "the gay/trans agenda" as specific to the whole group/s..

/s
<gay

 

[m4a4]

Ahh, yes, the first and last ditch effort of someone out of their depth, they directly jump to political stances - "a conservative homophobe/transphobe dogwhistle". I knew this was coming before you even posted.

It's funny how some folks always bring these things back to politics where everyone must agree with their exact stance or they're the far left/right of whatever party you oppose. A bit sad really. Anyway, take care, I'm done with this.

Just hit "Ignore" on his profile and continue on with your day. No reasoning with people who didn't reason themselves into their position in the first place, and throw around labels like they mean anything anymore. I see I ignored him a while ago for such things already.

And since this is a Tech site, nothing of value will be lost.


It's just a shame the SteamDB guy who sold it didn't try a bit harder to find a better company to keep it going.

 

[toooooot]

I cannot imagine a worse destiny for DB.

 

[poshflamingos]

Ahh, yes, the first and last ditch effort of someone out of their depth, they directly jump to political stances - "a conservative homophobe/transphobe dogwhistle".

Homophobia/transphobia is not a political stance. It has nothing to do with being left-wing or right-wing. It's just basic human decency.

It just so happens the vast majority of homophobes/transphobes are conservatives because conservatives are authoritarians who are generally not decent people. But being a homophobe/transphobe is not part of being right-wing, and plenty of right-wing people (more so on the classic liberalism/libertarianism/small government section) are not homophobes/transphobes.

It's funny how some folks always bring these things back to politics where everyone must agree with their exact stance or they're the far left/right of whatever party you oppose. A bit sad really. Anyway, take care, I'm done with this.

Again, basic human decency is not politics.

Second, I can prove it to you. There is no way for you to defend your position without it invariably arriving at you saying "I just don't like seeing gay/trans people." I just need to keep asking you to elaborate.

"I just don't want an agenda pushed on me."

Why is it an "agenda"?

"They want to shove an ideology down my throat."

What is the ideology they want to shove down your throat?

"The ideology that I need to respect queer people and treat them as normal part of society."

Why shouldn't queer people be respected and treated as normal part of society?

"Well, I just don't like seeing gay/trans people."

There you go. If you don't try to cop out of this argument, our conversation is going to go something similar to this. It's exactly the same as americans who defend the confederates because it was "about states' rights". All you need to do is ask them "states' rights to what?" and watch them contort themselves like pretzels. The reason I can state so confidently that anyone who talks about "not wanting an agenda shoved down their throats" in this context is a homophobe/transphobe is because it's impossible to escape that conclusion once we start the argument.

This topic is like a black hole. Once you state that you "don't want an agenda pushed down your throat", you already crossed the event horizon. There is no path you can take from there that doesn't end at the singularity of "I just don't like gay/trans people". People who are not homophobes/transphobes do not view it as an "agenda" to begin with.

 

[acrossthestars]

People who are not homophobes/transphobes do not view it as an "agenda" to begin with.

As soon as you start ambushing people with gotchas, you've already lost.

I mean, yes, you technically "won" the debate because you are "on the right side of history" according to the current political zeitgeist, but if your goal―your actual goal―is to bring people of differing persuasions together, then this is not how you go about doing it.

Let's not mince words here: there is an agenda, to increase the visibility of queer people, but it will necessarily come at the detriment of other groups. There is a finite amount of mental bandwidth and it is possible for some groups to consume all of the oxygen in the room. The reality is, queer people will never have to stop fighting to matter, because humans reproduce by sexual reproduction―not asexual fission―so two people of the same sex simply cannot create new life without medical intervention.

Furthermore, they already are being treated as part of "normal society" in the West. If they weren't (like with what happens in Middle Eastern provinces, like Iran) then being openly gay would be a literal death sentence. Respecting queer people as humans and not animals and dignifying their sexuality as functionally equivalent to heterosexuality (which it is not) is what you are attempting to do and is effectively a form of sociocultural "biological erasure". Because, according to mindset of the far left, if queer people are not equals to "the straights", then not being straight makes them "less than". So, reducing straight and gay to "points on a spectrum" equivocates them as basically interchangeable. They are not.

I respect queer people immensely. I'm also not going to stand here and act like hating on straight people solves anything. That may be considered "progressive" (which has basically just become a synonym for self-righteous retribution, because "now it's OUR turn to be the baddies, let's see if YOU like it"). That may FEEL "just", but the inverse of the problem is another problem, not the solution.

 

[OortCloud]

I was just looking at SteamDB the other day, admiring the functionality and thinking "there's no way this can survive in such a useful state for much longer". Rather than seeking contributors for help, the creator decides to sell it to... NexusMods... Okay.

Given all the work he's put into it I think he should be able to sell it to fund his retirement.