Nexus Mods Manager for Windows

Free open-source game mod manager

Nexus Mod Manager is a free mod manager for games. Created by Nexus Mods owner Robin Scott in 2015, it grew to host numerous mods for various games over the years. In 2018, Vortex replaced NMM as the latest open-source platform, with the latter no longer receiving updates.

What is the Nexus Mod Manager?

NMM is a mod managing platform whereby the Nexus Mod community can share their game modifications in a central place. Fans can download these files and install them in the relevant game, bringing new features and content not available in the original version. Developers use software development kits to create the mods, which aren’t officially licensed by any of the game publishers.

The Nexus Mod Manager has an intuitive interface that’s easy to use. When comparing it to manually modding a game, its key benefits include better installation, organization, and removal. Since it’s connected to the Nexus Mod website and your account, you’ll enjoy a fast and effortless experience.

You can create modifications for well-known titles on the platform. A few names worth mentioning are The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The open-source manager is safe to use, even with it not receiving any more updates.

What happened to Nexus Mod Manager?

The original modding system created by Robin Scott dates back to 2006 when he started TESSource for the Oblivion Mod Manager. The name changed to Nexus Mods Manager in 2015, but the platform and mechanics remained the same. In 2016, Nexus Mods informed the community that NMM had reached ‘End-of-Line’ (EOL) status, meaning that they were moving towards discontinuing support while developing a new version.

Several reasons appeared for this decision. Besides the outdated software, Nexus Mods hired the developer of Skyrim Mod Organizer, Tannin, to improve NMM. It became increasingly more challenging to maintain the system with the constant bug fixes.

Nexus Mods decided that it’d be easier to develop a completely new mod manager than to continue fixing the archaic platform. Vortex finally released in 2018 for that purpose, featuring several new functions that NMM was unable to perform. Since then, modders and fans alike have been moving from the old to the new utility.

Can you still use Nexus Mod Manager?

While Vortex has taken the limelight for the past few years, NMM is still available to download and install on Windows. You can access mods for the games in its portfolio, letting you make changes to many of your favorite old titles. Nexus Mod Manager isn’t dead to the community as yet.

The main issue is that NMM won’t receive any more updates or focused support from Nexus Mods. If you head to the support forum, you might find someone in the community who could assist you with a minor glitch or problem. However, there’s no dedicated team performing maintenance on the platform anymore.

Is Vortex better than Nexus Mod Manager?

Since Vortex is the new Nexus Mod Manager, it receives regular updates from the development team and mod creators alike. You’ll find modifications for some of the latest titles, with more games in its portfolio than NMM. Vortex also holds several features that NMM can’t execute.

One of the most significant problems with NMM is that it doesn’t alert you to file conflicts. You can choose which mod should override another, but the platform won’t inform you that modifications files are creating a conflict. If you want to revert to the first game mod, you’ll have to uninstall both of them and reinstall the preferred files.

Vortex fixes this problem by creating an alert with a red lightning bolt by the conflicting modification file. You can change the load order or set the rules for how it affects your game. When the lightning bolt turns green, you’ve addressed the issue and can safely start your game.

If you’re looking for alternative mod managers that have full-time support, you can try Steam Workshop. It provides similar features, but many modders state that it’s less stable than NMM or Vortex. Tannin’s Mod Organizer 2 is another option for an improved modding experience for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition.

How do you install Nexus Mod Manager?

If you still want to run the community-supported project, you can download the installation file to your hard drive. You’ll need to run the executable file once downloading is complete, which prompts the installation wizard to appear. You may need to give administrative permission for the program to make changes to Windows, but the software is safe to use.

Before the wizard begins installing Nexus Mod Manager, it’ll ask you to select the preferred language, peruse the license agreement, and accept the GPL terms. You’ll also need to indicate where you’d like to save the program. Final steps include ticking if you want a start menu folder, setting file extension associations, and clicking on the ‘Install’ button.

Everything should run smoothly from that point onwards. You’ll see a desktop shortcut for NMM, which gives you quick access to the software. If you run into any installation problems, you can approach the community on the Nexus Mods support forum for assistance.

Outdated mod management system

While there’s no dedicated team attending to Nexus Mods Manager anymore, many gamers and modders are still using the system. There’s a vibrant community keeping it alive, with a loyal fan base regularly uploading and downloading modification files. However, improved functionality and mods for newer titles are all heading into the Vortex.