Remastering Fallout: New Vegas (2017)

Fallout: New Vegas is, in my opinion and the opinion of countless others, the best Fallout game. It offers a compelling story, plenty of exploration, a perfect blend of seriousness and dark humor with a western aesthetic, and so much more.

I’ve written this mod guide both for those who are just getting into the game now, and for previous fans who want to modernize their copy. This guide will not add new content (except for some missing interiors, cut content and new music/sounds.) This guide will also not change the gameplay in any major way. The goal of this guide is to “remaster” Fallout: New Vegas without straying far from Obsidian’s original vision of the game. I’ll do my best to limit the number of mods in each category to around 5 to keep it reasonable. If this all sounds like something that interests you, keep on reading.

Fallout: New Vegas Remastered for 2017

Section 1: Setup and Installations

I. Get the Game

So, obviously the first thing we need to do is get our copy of the game! You can obtain the latest version with all DLC from:

• GOG (recommended)
• Steam

Ensure, when you install the game, to install it to a folder other than the default Program Files directories. This is to ensure that you and all applications we use will have proper permissions to access the folder.

The GOG copy has been patched to utilize up to 4GB of RAM (instead of the default 2GB), which is why it is recommended here if you don’t already own a copy of the game on one of these stores. The Steam version does not. However, if you do own the Steam version, don’t worry- I will go over how to patch it yourself in the next section.

II. Generate & Configure the INI Files

This is a quick step that will help when we start changing INI settings later on. Before patching your game, open the game launcher and configure your settings. Your computer can likely handle maximum everything if you’re on a relatively modern system. In that case, select Ultra. Make sure you set your resolution and select “Windowed” mode, and then quit out. Now, if they weren't before, your INI files have been generated and (somewhat) properly configured. Note that if you already have INI files generated, it’s best to delete these and reconfigure them through the launcher. They’re located in ‘~/Documents/My Games/Fallout New Vegas’.

Next, we’ll configure them a little deeper. Grab this tool here to help us out. It makes configuring the INI files a lot easier than with a text editor. Once in the application, select “BethINI Presets” and then click “High” or “Ultra.” Also check “Recommended Tweaks.” Then just click “Save and Exit.”

III. Install Nexus Mod Manager

This is where most of our modding will happen. I highly recommend Nexus mod manager, though to some this is blasphemy and Mod Organizer is the way to go. I realize that MO is stable for most people, but I’ve had my fair share of issues with it and since development is now dead I personally do not think it’s worth any trouble, especially since we aren’t installing a ton of mods here.

Download and install Nexus Mod Manager, run it, and let it locate your game files.

Section 2: Patches, Fixes & Dependencies

I. Steam Version 4GB Patch

If you own the GOG version you can of course skip this section.

Let’s patch your Steam version of Fallout: New Vegas to utilize all 4GB of RAM that it’s capable of. First, head on over to here and download the main file.

Now place the .exe file in your Fallout: New Vegas directory with the game executables, and run it as an administrator (this isn’t critical if you’ve installed the game outside of ‘Program Files’, but it could still help avoid any problems.) It will create a backup of your original game .exe and replace it with a new, patched one. Once this is done you can delete the patcher for a clean folder, but I recommend leaving the backup there.

Now your Steam version is identical to the GOG version! (Except, you know, the DRM.) So let’s move forward.

Why is this necessary?

Well, in the good old days, most PCs didn’t even have more than 4GB of ram. While 32-bit applications are capable of using up to 4GB, applications such as Fallout: New Vegas were capped to only 2GB so that some was left over for the system. Obviously, this is unnecessary now, and since modding can often be very demanding, we’re going to need the extra 2GB.

II. New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE)

NVSE is a great mod that expands the scripting capabilities of Fallout: New Vegas. It is needed for some mods to work, so we’ll install it now.

You can grab the mod here:

New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE)

Just follow the instructions on the website to install it, and make sure that from now on when you’re launching a game to use the NVSE executable and not the game launcher. Set this up in Nexus Mod Manager as well, if you launch the game through there.

III. Dependencies

Now that NVSE is installed, we can install some utilities that will provide extra functions to mods. These are required by many mods, and of course some mods in this guide, so there’s no reason not to install them. They don’t alter the game in any way.

• JIP LN NVSE Plugin
• UIO — User Interface Organizer

IV. Game Fixes

These are three small but important mods for running this game on modern hardware. Install and activate each using Nexus Mod Manager (we’ll install each subsequent mod with NMM now as well):

• New Vegas Anti-Crash (NVAC)
• New Vegas Stutter Remover
• OneTweak for FNV

New Vegas Anti-Crash fixes some bugs that would cause the game to intermittently crash, so it shouldn't do that anymore. New Vegas Stutter Remover removes a very obvious and annoying microstuttering that occurs in gameplay. (Try the game without it, you’ll see what I mean.) OneTweak both enables borderless windowed mode and dynamic processor priority for improved performance, and fixes a cursor bug.

There is one setting you should change in New Vegas Stutter Remover for optimal performance:

• Go to your New Vegas game directory
• Navigate to Data/NVSE/plugins/sr_New_Vegas_Stutter_Remover.ini
• Change the following existing value to a ‘0’:

Master = {
  bHookLightCriticalSections = 0
}

You should run the game now to make sure everything is running well. If it is, great! We can move on.

V. Patches

First thing here we’ll install is the Yukichigai Unofficial Patch (YUP). This fixes a boatload of bugs in the game that the creators never got around to. Download the main file and install it with NMM.

We’ll follow that with Unofficial Patch Plus. Similar to YUP, this fixes a lot of bugs in the game, but only ones that Yukichigaki chose not to or couldn’t fix with his mod due to not being dependent on NVSE.

After that, install Collision Meshes. This is an amazing mod that introduces higher resolution collision meshes to the game. Basically, these are meshes that dictate how collisions work. This mod lets you shoot through fences, place items more precisely, and more.

Finally, I’ll end this section with Uncut Wasteland. This one is entirely optional. I use the main file plus NPCs, but you can choose any files you desire. It’s not so much a patch, but not quite an addition either. This mod just adds back in some content that was cut from the original game to increase performance at the last minute. Check out the screenshots if you’re having trouble deciding. It’s adds some really nice details back in.

With all of what we’ve done so far, you could stop here and just enjoy a perfectly smooth Fallout: New Vegas experience, just as it was intended to be. If you want to, I won’t stop you, but if you continue we’ll essentially remaster the game to get it much closer to modern standards, visually.

Section 3: Remastering the Mojave

Now it’s time to replace that old 2010-looking Mojave with a brand new one. As always, I’ll only include what I consider to be the most noticeable and necessary changes. If you want to grab every single individual item retexture mod, be my guest. There’s a great number of them on Nexus Mods.

We’ll start with the smaller mods, and work our way up to the more important ones. Unless otherwise specified, when NMM asks if you want to overwrite files, say “Yes to All” or “Yes.”

I. The Environment, Buildings and Clutter

Install the mods in this order, and remember to overwrite the files from any of the previous mods:

• MGs Neat Clutter Retextures — Get the ‘MGs NCR Pack Ojo friendly 7’ main file only.
• POCO BUENO Texture Pack — Some prefer this over NMCs; if you’re one of them, just install this after NMCs and replace the textures from it with these.
• NMCs Texture Pack — Highly recommend medium as the difference isn’t very big.
• Textures Over Time — Grab the files “FlagStoneWalls”, “HH_Sandstone” and “Sandbags”. Some of his textures are not great, but these three are must-have. Check out his screenshots.
• Wasteland Flora Overhaul — This one’s optional, but I think it looks great while keeping things mostly realistic. It adds a bunch of relevant plants to the mojave to make it feel a little more real and a little less empty.
• ELECTRO-CITY— Another optional mod. You might want to grab this if you also want to use Realistic Wasteland Lighting, as nights can get pretty dark. Either way though, it looks nice and I recommend it.

II. Visuals and FX

This section is dedicated to some of the most important things in Fallout: New Vegas- blood, gunshots, explosions, and other effects.

As with have before, install in this order, and overwrite when asked unless specified:

• Essential Visual Enhancements (EVE) — This is a huge mod that covers mainly energy weapon effects, but also adds explosion effects, blood effects and other cool stuff.
• Effect teXtures Enhanced (EXE) — Another huge effect mod. This big boy replaces just about every other effect in the game from water, to smoke, to fire and more.
• Improved LOD Noise Texture — Does what it says and improves the look of distant terrain quite a bit. A small but noticeable improvement.
• Better Gas Leak Effect — Small but noticeable.

III. Player, Enemies and NPCs

In this section we’re going to cover every living thing in the game, from the player (you) to enemies, creatures, and friendly NPCs. As a result, there are a few more mods here than normal.

• Ghouls HiRes Retexture — Retextures the friendly ghouls in the game.
• Fallout Character Overhaul — This is required as a base for Fallout New Vegas Redesigned. ONLY grab version 2.3.1 under the “Old Files” section.
• Fallout New Vegas Redesigned 3 — This mod fixes a lot of the characters in the game to look much more natural without straying from their original looks. Grab the main file and the update. WARNING: This mod contains nudity and some other gruesome changes. If you’re not cool with that, you can skip it and just keep FCO.
• Improved Robots Textures — The name says it all. Also get the DLC patches in the main files section.
• Feral Ghouls HiRes Retexture — New textures for unfriendly ghouls.
• Securitron HiRes Retexture — The last mod on this list, a replacement for Securitron textures. I recommend the 2048px version unless you think you need the 4k textures.

IV. Weapons and Apparel

• Weapon Retexture Project (WRP) — This mod retextures all of the games weapons.
• 357 Revolver Re-Retextured — Fixes an issue with WRP.
• Single Shotgun Re-Retexture — Fixes an issue with WRP.
• Bozar Retexture — Fixes an issue with WRP.
• GRA WRP Unofficial Patch v2 — Fixes an issue with WRP and the GRA DLC.
• Wasteland Clothing HiRes Retexture — Make sure you grab the Powerganger Fix under updates as well.
• Pipboy 3000 HD Retexture — A nice retexture of the Pipboy. Useful, since you’ll be looking at this a LOT during the course of the game. There’s even a dualshock controller option in the files section if you use one of those.

V. UI & HUD

• Vanilla Loading Screens HD— Upscaled versions of the original loading screens that look much better.
• Pause Menu HD — Hd-ifies the pause menu background.
• Better Pickup Prompt — Improves the UI for item pickups.
• Vanilla UI Plus — Majorly improves the game’s UI, and looks fantastic on 1080p+ displays.
• Vanilla HUD Remastered — A much sharper, high-definition HUD that matches the look of the original and works great with Vanilla UI Plus.

VI. Lighting and Atmosphere

Moving onto the lighting and atmosphere of the wasteland. Here we’ll change the sky, outdoor and indoor lighting to really kick it up.

Here are the mods, in order, for this section:

• Interior Lighting Overhaul — Vastly improved lights for interiors. This mod really ups the atmosphere of the inside of buildings, caves, etc. Did I mention it also adds working light switches?
• FNV Realistic Wasteland Lighting — A complete outdoor lighting overhaul. This mod removes the yellow tint from the game, adds new skies, and has no intrusive weather effects. Some people report nights are too dark; if that’s the case for you, then you can either try the brighter nights optional file or go for something lighter, like Clarity.

A Note on ENB

This guide does not include ENB, and is not optimized for it. I think it’s too hard on performance and has some issues that can interfere with the game. We can get New Vegas to look amazing just fine without it. That said, if you’re looking for more color correction, fake shadows, ao, etc., then give it a try. Just don’t be alarmed if it makes some things look a little wonky or cuts your FPS. It has plenty of faults.

A great alternative to ENB is ReShade. This comes without the bugs that ENB causes, and offers better performance. If you want to try it out, I recommend this preset for New Vegas. There is both a neutral and warm preset (if you fancy the original look) in the downloads section. If it looks too dark for your tastes, open up the ReShade menu (SHIFT + F2), and look for the Filmic Pass settings. Increase both the Contrast and Base Gamma until it looks good. I had to bring mine up a bit to look like the screenshots here.

Section 4: Music and Sounds

Of course, we need updated sound effects to go with our smooth looking visuals. We’ll also add some more music for a little more variety.

I. Sound Effects

• Improved Sound FX — The main SFX mod. Improves lots of weapon sounds.
• Immersive Pickup Sounds FNV Edition — Adds better and more diverse pickup sounds.

II. Music and Radio

• CONELRAD 640–1240 — Civil Defense Radio — Adds a whole new radio station mod with a ton of fitting, novelty music. Lot’s of songs from Fallout 3 and 4 are here.
• Mojave Music Radio — Extended — Extends Mojave music radio to 60 songs. (There are options for up to 100, but I went with 60.) Whatever pack you choose, make sure you download all packs before it as well, or you’ll get long periods of silence. Also, only enable the ESP for the pack you’re using, and not all of the previous packs ESPs.

Extra Tips and FAQ

How do I launch the game through steam, without adding another shortcut for NVSE?

If you’re like me and launch your games through the Steam interface, there is a way to launch your modded game, NVSE included, through the main New Vegas shortcut in steam. (Note that this will not work if you are using Mod Organizer.)

Navigate to your New Vegas game directory where the executables are located and find your FalloutLauncher.exe. Rename this to something like “FalloutLauncher_backup.exe”. Now find the nvse executable and rename that to “FalloutLauncher.exe.” Done. Now Steam will recognize the NVSE launcher as the launcher for fallout and open that by default. I recommend making a backup copy of the nvse exe as well just in case steam overwrites it for some reason.

How do I open .7z files, which many mods are packed in?

Easy- download 7-zip! It’s a free, brilliant program that takes care of pretty much any archive type. You don’t use Winzip do you?

Some mods aren’t loading properly, or at all!

Probably a case of archive invalidation. Open Nexus Mod Manager and click on the tools icon next to the name of the game. You’ll see a checkbox next to “Archive Invalidation.” If this isn’t checked, check it and you’re done! If if IS checked, uncheck it, restart NMM and then check it again. This SHOULD fix most issues.

Conclusion

That’s it for this guide! I kept it as short as I possibly could, and I hope I didn’t miss anything. If I did, or if you had any issues, please let me know!

It was important to me to not stray from the original artists vision of the game, and to only improve on it. If you follow this you’ll end up with an amazing New Vegas experience worthy of 2017.