The website became defunct in December 2001, when its network was shut down after its hosting service, Playnet, filed for bankruptcy.

[3] Reismanis was an information technology consultant at Accenture and intended to keep Mod DB his hobby, but he left the firm to found DesuraNET as the website's hosting company, citing the expense of running the website and his recollection of IGN's 2006 attempt to acquire it.

[3] Mod DB was integrated into DesuraNET's Desura, which was a digital distribution service that focused on indie games.

Community involvement is strongly encouraged, and any game mod with a website is allowed to post a screenshot gallery, news, and requests for help.

The core staff generally remain the same, while lower positions are heavily rotated among trainee moderators, and administrator candidates.

][5] Nevertheless, the website received mainstream media attention when in early 2011 it hosted School Shooter: North American Tour 2012, a Half-Life 2 mod in which the player assumes the role of a school student with the goal of murdering as many people as possible before being stopped by police and SWAT members.

Mods are chosen via a community vote and are then reviewed by staff to produce the final list of winners.

Winners of the Indie of the Year Awards include Minecraft by Mojang in 2010,[14] RimWorld by Ludeon Studios in 2016[15] and Ion Fury by Voidpoint in 2019.