Nexus Mods Update Targets AI Content And Thumbnails

Published Jul 30, 2026, 1:06 PM EDT If you’re a regular Nexus Mods user, you’ll be aware that the rise of generative AI has caused more than a few problems. Many modders have started using gen AI in their work, and if you want to avoid that, it’s not always easy to spot until you’ve already got the mod installed into your game. Another issue that’s been plaguing Nexus Mods is the overuse of AI-generated thumbnails. These are sometimes easy to spot, but they tell you very little about a mod you're looking at. And if it's not obvious that it's AI, it's just misleading. So, it’s a great relief to see that Nexus Mods is finally tackling this issue. In a new blog post, the Nexus Mods team reveals some changes coming to how mods are categorised and moderated, making it easier for users to see how exactly generative AI was used in a mod’s creation. Nexus Mods Breaks Down New AI-Content Guidelines “One of the main points we've heard from the user base is that our current tag of ‘AI-Generated Content’ is not sufficient; equating all generative AI use under one tag does not allow for nuance in filtering your mods feed on our platform,” the blog post reads. To address this, more tags are being added, and will be required for mods that use generative AI. AI-Generated Content: AI-Generated code, user interface elements, voices, dialogue, translations, music, in-game AI-generated assets. AI Media: AI promotional art, thumbnails, videos, mod page descriptions or media outside of the mod content in-game. AI Assisted: Developer-led code, content, or mod assets, with limited AI involvement, AI texture upscaling, AI audio upscaling/cleaning, AI concept art not in final mod content. These new tagging requirements seem reasonable and will be useful for users who have different tolerance levels when it comes to AI in the mods they use. In particular, that "AI media" tag will come in handy, so we can better spot misleading AI thumbnails. However, Nexus Mods anticipates this will lead to moderation disputes. Specifically, it is forewarning modders that if your mod is predominantly made with AI, it needs the “AI-generated content” tag, not the “AI assisted” tag. In fact, if you opt for the lesser “AI assisted” tag, the moderation team can call upon you to prove that development of your mod was human-led, basically asking you to show your homework and confirm that you have the knowledge required to make the mod yourself. If users feel that a mod has been tagged incorrectly, they can now report it for being miscategorised. On top of this, modders will be warned that they can face action from the moderation team if they upload files that do not disclose the use of generative AI. Hopefully, this makes AI content easier to spot and avoid if you want your mods to be human-made, and doesn’t cause too much of a moderation headache. So far, the community is responding well, so it just remains to be seen if this is all rolled out smoothly.