What You Need to Play Fallout New Vegas Today. Best Mods to Get Started
Has the Fallout TV show inspired you to return to the iconic New Vegas? We have prepared for you a guide with basic mods that improve Obsidian studio's RPG.
The premiere of the Fallout TV show has prompted many people to revisit the games from this series. Some of them will choose Fallout: New Vegas, which most fans of the series consider to be its best three-dimensional release.
However, this is a game from 2010, so before you start playing, it's worth tweaking it slightly with mods (how many people came up with such an idea is shown by the record increase in downloads of files for this title on the Nexus site). In this article, you will find a short guide on how mod the game.
Our focus here will be solely on enhancing the game, rather than on projects that introduce new content or radically change the gameplay or atmosphere, as we just want to show you how to experience New Vegas in an improved state. Meanwhile, a game prepared in this manner will be perfectly suited for further exploration with mods, as many fan-made improvements not only enhance the game itself but also alter its technical aspects to better accommodate numerous modifications.
Game modding foundations
Before we move on to the mods themselves, it's worth making sure that you have the DirectX and VC++ libraries installed on your Windows system. If you're not sure, install them from these links, even if you've already had them, nothing bad will happen.
1. New Vegas Script Extender (xNVSE)
First, you need to take care of the foundations of the mods. The New Vegas Script Extender serves this purpose, expanding the game modification possibilities, and is therefore necessary for most ambitious fan projects. The original version hasn't been developed for a long time, but fortunately another group has taken over this task, the result of which is xNVSE.
- New Vegas Script Extender (xNVSE) - download the mod from our FTP
- New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE) on GitHub
Installation:
The installation of xNVSE is simple. Just download the archive and unpack it into the main game folder. This is important because most mods are unpacked into the "Data" folder, but xNVSE is an exception and you need to put its files into the main folder, where the FalloutNV.exe file that runs the game is located.
Game versions and mods
If you want to have fun modifying New Vegas, you will need the Steam or GOG.com version of the game. xNVSE doesn't support the Game Pass version.
If you own the Epic Games Store version, use the Epic Games Patcher to convert its files to nearly identical to the Steam version, enabling extensive game modding. To do this, unpack the archive with Epic Games Patcher into the game folder and run patcher.exe. Important: afterwards, lunch the game only through the Epic Games Store client. Never run nvse_loader.exe.
2. FNV 4GB Patcher
Fallout: New Vegas was developed for 32-bit operating systems. This means that the game can only use 2 GB of RAM, even if we have more memory on the PC. This leads to decreased performance, and if we use expansions and mods, it can also cause the game to freeze as modifications easily surpass this limit.
FNV 4GB Patcher fixes this, allowing the game to use 4GB of memory as long as we use this mod on a 64-bit operating system.
Installation:
1. Download the mod and unpack the archive into the game folder.
2. Run FNVpatch.exe.
3. Mod Manager
You can install mods manually, but it's easier to do it with a manager. There are two choices - Mod Organizer 2 and Vortex. Both are good and fulfill their purpose. The first one provides greater control over long mod lists. In contrast, Vortex is simpler to use and less likely to disrupt the game when using it. For most players, this will be a better option, and we will focus on it in this article.
After installing Vortex, launch this program and log into your account, go to "Games" and there in the "Unmanaged" section find "Fallout: New Vegas" - when you hover the cursor over the game logo, the "Manage" button will appear; click on it.
Installing mods
Most mods are installed in the same way.
If you have Vortex:
On NexusMods, just click the "Vortex" button right after "Download." Vortex will then take us to the file syncing section, and clicking "Download" there will prompt the program to automatically download and install the chosen mod.
Sometimes the button may be missing in the main profile, even though the mod supports it. This happens when the mod has several versions (e.g. separate for the basic edition of the game and additional for the one with expansions). Then click on "Files" and use "MOD MANAGER DOWNLOAD" for the version you have selected.
With Vortex, you can also install manually downloaded mod archives. To do this, click on "Install from file" in this program and point it to the archive with the mod.
Using a mod manager like Vortex also helps to minimize the likelihood of conflicts between modifications. Not only can you quickly disable a problematic mod if necessary, but when several projects change the same elements, you can choose which one will be loaded first and which one will overwrite it, being loaded as the second. The program will often suggest the preferred configuration to you.
Missing master error (DLC)
Sometimes Vortex may not automatically activate required DLCs and mods, causing them to malfunction and resulting in a "missing master" error message. In that case, go to the "Plugins" tab and make sure that the additional files are marked as "enabled."
Alternatively, you can choose to download the files manually (by using the "Manual" option in mod profiles on NexusMods) and extract the mod archive into the "Data" folder.
Sometimes a modder makes a mistake and packs the archive incorrectly. If after opening it you see that there is a Data folder, then unpack the archive into the main game folder, so that you don't have a "..Data/Data" structure. However, such cases are very rare (and none of them concern the mods mentioned in this article).
We are improving the technical side of the game
We have already built the foundations. Time to start the game renovation.
1. The Mod Configuration Menu
The Mod Configuration Menu is a project that adds a mod menu to the game, allowing you to configure them from within the game. Apart from being useful, it's also a project that many other mods require.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
2. JIP LN NVSE Plugin
The next mod you should install is the JIP LN NVSE Plugin. It significantly enhances the capabilities of xNVSE and also addresses numerous technical errors in the game, particularly those related to the engine. It also restores broken functions.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
3. New Vegas Heap Replacer
This mod, in turn, alters how the game handles stacks of objects in memory, determining which ones to place in a specific location and which ones to discard as they are no longer necessary. The system responsible for this in the game is very poorly optimized and outdated. The mod's version offers significantly better performance in this regard, ensuring higher efficiency. In the basic game version, it may not have a significant impact, but it becomes increasingly useful as you install more mods.
Installation:
This is one of those mods that cannot be installed through the manager. However, its installation is simple: just unpack its archive into the main game folder (MAIN, not into "Data"!) I know that I am repeating myself, but numerous issues with modding New Vegas arise from improperly locating files in the "Data" folder when they should actually be in the main folder, and vice versa.
4. JohnnyGuitar NVSE
This is another project expanding scripts. Our main focus is on the fact that it brings in extra engine upgrades that are missing in other mods.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
5. NVAC - New Vegas Anti Crash
The game tends to freeze and not all official patches have fixed this. You can significantly limit this with the help of NVAC – New Vegas Anti Crash.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
6. NVTF - New Vegas Tick Fix
NVTF - New Vegas Tick Fix fixes the insanely annoying micro stuttering of the game and forces the Havok physics engine to operate at a higher number of fps.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
7. FNV Mod Limit Fix
FNV Mod Limit Fix repeatedly increases the limit of installed mods in the game. In New Vegas, the default limit is quite low and can be quickly surpassed, leading to the engine not loading certain graphical elements. This mod fixes it, and incidentally increases performance when using a larger number of modifications.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
8. kNVSE Animation Plugin
This modification eliminates the restrictions on the quantity of animations, enabling the inclusion of new ones for characters and weapons. This is an absolutely necessary change if you want to play with mods, as many of them have their own animations. The mod also removes several engine errors related to animations.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
9. Infinite Loading Screen Fix
If you play Fallout: New Vegas for a long time, sooner or later you will encounter an error in which the game will endlessly try to load a save. Save yourself the nerves and install the mod that fixes this before you are forced to do so.
The bug occurs because the game engine has difficulty in using the multi-threading capabilities of processors. This mod forces the use of only one thread during loading times, and after the data loading is completed, it reactivates all of them.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
10. Improved Lighting Shaders
The mod Improved Lighting Shaders fixes an error that caused shadows in the game to be displayed incorrectly in open areas, often appearing as a dense black form instead of being partially transparent. The modification also makes the engine capable of generating four times more light sources, and therefore it is required by some other large mods.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
11. Weapon Mesh Improvement Mod
The Weapon Mesh Improvement Mod addresses most of the weapon-related issues in the game, including their visual aspects (especially models) and gameplay.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
This mod requires all expansions.
12. New Vegas Mesh Improvement Mod (NVMIM)
The New Vegas Mesh Improvement Mod improves numerous models in the game, including characters, objects, and environmental elements. It not only removes many visual errors, but also significantly enhances model optimization and resolves numerous gameplay issues related to them, such as incorrect object collision detection.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
13. lStewieAl's Tweaks and Engine Fixes
lStewieAl's Tweaks and Engine Fixes is another mod that corrects numerous engine errors that weren't removed by the previously mentioned mods.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
14. Yukichigai Unofficial Patch (YUP)
Yukichigai Unofficial Patch (YUP) is a huge modification that focuses solely on bug fixes. This is currently the most crucial project of its kind, and when combined with all the previously mentioned mods, it will offer you a thoroughly refined gaming experience.
Rarely does a game require as many fan-made fixes as this one, but we are dealing with a game developed in just 18 months by Obsidian studio, known for its lack of technical polish, based on a game from an even more "famous" team in this category, Bethesda.
It's no surprise that repairing the technical state of New Vegas requires so much work, given that the mixture. However, it is worth taking the time to install all these mods, as together they make a huge difference.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
15. Ogg Vorbis Libraries
In the end, it is worth installing Ogg Vorbis Libraries to avoid problems with decoding sounds that appear on some of the latest PCs.
- Ogg Vorbis Libraries on Nexus
- NMC's Texture Pack on Nexus
- NMC's Texture Pack - download the mod from our FTP
Installation:
Unpack the archive to the main game folder.
It's time to improve the graphics
With all the mods installed, Fallout: New Vegas should be in the same technical condition that the game is supposed to be in if Obsidian were given the resources to fully refine it. If you are purists, you can stop modifying the game at this point. In another case, it's time to move on to mods that improve graphics.
Better textures
All the mods below are installed in the same way, either using Vortex or manually, by unpacking the modification archive into the "Data" folder.
NMC's Texture Pack
NMC's Texture Pack is quite an old project, but so far it is the most comprehensive texture improvement mod in the game. It should be used as a base for improving the game's graphics.
The mod swaps out the majority of textures for versions with significantly higher resolution and greater level of detail. The authors remained faithful to the original style and atmosphere, which is important.
Weapon Retexture Project (WRP)
This mod improves the quality of weapon textures. The modification requires all expansions and covers some of the same files as the Weapon Mesh Improvement Mod, so if there are conflicts, set the loading order of the Weapon Retexture Project (WRP) after the Weapon Mesh Improvement Mod.
Lighting
Interior Lighting Overhaul
Interior Lighting Overhaul improves interior lighting to make it more realistic and emphasize the game's atmosphere. As a result, in some rooms, light, for instance, passes through the windows, while in others there is so little of it that you have to use a flashlight. It sounds simple, but it required a huge amount of work, as the authors had to manually rework every interior in the game. However, the effect is impressive.
Installation:
In the case of this mode, manual installation isn't supported. Use the Vortex.
FNV Realistic Wasteland Lighting
FNV Realistic Wasteland Lighting, on the other hand, will enhance the lighting in open areas.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder. Two versions of the mod are available on Nexus - one for the base game and one for the edition with DLCs.
Fallout Character Overhaul
The character models in New Vegas leave much to be desired. That's why it's worth installing Fallout Character Overhaul. The project improves the models and textures while maintaining the original style and not conflicting with other elements of the design.
Installation:
In the case of this mode, manual installation isn't supported. Use the Vortex. It is worth adding that the proper functioning of Fallout Character Overhaul also requires the UIO – User Interface Organizer mod. You can install this one using either Nexus or by extracting the archive into the "Data" folder.
Other noteworthy mods
One HUD (oHUD)
The game interface isn't perfect, especially when playing on modern monitors. Fans have developed several projects to improve this aspect. Of all of them, I would like to recommend One HUD – oHUD. It not only introduces necessary improvements, but also allows us to customize the interface to our preferences in many aspects. We can freely move its various elements and add or remove them.
Installation:
Use the Vortex. Just keep in mind that the mod needs the UIO – User Interface Organizer modification and The Mod Configuration Menu to function.
Collision Meshes
Collision Meshes enhances the quality of the so-called collision meshes, which are invisible parts of models that determine collision simulations with other objects. Those in the basic version of Fallout: New Vegas are much simpler than the appearance of the objects suggests. As a result, even if we see a gap between two planks, we cannot shoot through it, because the collision mesh sees all these planks as one, uninterrupted surface. This mod fixes this.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder.
JSawyer Ultimate Edition
JSawyer is a mod that fundamentally changes the balance of the game and was developed by Josh Sawyer, the lead designer of New Vegas. The mod makes the game harder and more survival-oriented. You don't have to install this modification if you're just beginning your adventure with this game. This is a great suggestion to make replaying the campaign more engaging.
Playing the original version of this mod isn't worth it today. It's much better to use JSawyer Ultimate Edition, which serves as a kind of fan remake of this modification, modernizing it and introducing numerous improvements.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder. The mod requires all expansions.
Project Nevada
A similar, but much more extensive mod, is Project Nevada. The mod offers a new realistic aiming system, the option to use bullet-time, and assigning grenade throwing to one button. It also alters the balance of gameplay and brings in many changes in various aspects of combat. Overall, this leads to fights that closely resemble FPS games rather than what the basic version of the game presents. To this, the authors added the ability to use dozens of cybernetic implants, expanded the list of items, and increased the level of difficulty.
The Project Nevada mod is best suited for replaying the game, even more so than in the case of JSawyer. You won't get the full experience of what the developers from Obsidian studio are aiming to present to you because the mod is so different from the standard version of New Vegas.
Installation:
You can use Vortex or install the mod manually by unpacking its archive into the "Data" folder. The mod hasn't been updated in a while, but it continues to work perfectly. The only thing you need to be aware of is that it officially requires the Fallout Mod Manager (FOMM).
