Modding Fallout New Vegas is one of the best parts of the game, as it allows you to truly make the experience your own. In this guide, I’ll go over the prerequisites for modding the game, where you can download mods and the basic mods everyone should install.

Quick notes about modding the game:

• Only possible on PC. None of the console versions of Fallout: New Vegas support mods.
• Only possible on the Steam and GOG versions. The Bethesda.Net, XBOX Game Pass, and EPIC GAMES versions of the game are different from the Steam and GOG  
• Different mod managers exist. There are a large number of ways of installing mods for this game, however, in this guide, I’ll focus on Vortex. It’s the most modern mod manager out there and is by far the easiest to use.

Preparing For Modding

To mod Fallout: New Vegas, you’ll need the following:

• Fallout: New Vegas installed on your PC.
• The Steam ID changed to the international version if it isn’t already. (Only applies to the Steam version).
• A Nexus Mods account.
• Vortex installed on your PC.

Fallout: New Vegas installed on your PC.

When you install the game, make sure to note where it is installed. By default, Steam installs the game to C:/ProgramFiles(x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Fallout New Vegas.

The Steam ID changed to the international version if it isn’t already.

If you have a non-international Steam version of the game, such as the “enplczru” version (sold in parts of Europe), or the German “No Gore” version, you’ll have to make a small tweak.

• Open Steam.
• Right-click on Fallout: New Vegas in your library.

• Click “Properties”.

• You’ll see a text box with “Launch Options” above it. Put in the following text: “-SteamAppId 22490” (without the quotation marks).

This is required because certain mods only work on the international version. This will trick them into thinking that you are playing the international version.

A Nexus Mods account.

The grand majority of Fallout: New Vegas mods are hosted on Nexusmods. To download mods from there, you’ll need to create an account there. Simply go to this link, click the “register” button, and follow the instructions the site gives you.

Vortex installed on your PC.

Once you have an account on Nexusmods, you will need to download their mod manager – Vortex.To download Vortex, go to this page, click on the “Files” tab, and download the latest version.

Once the download is finished, open the installer and follow its instructions. The installation shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes.

Once you install Vortex, Launch it. Make sure to log in.

Once you are logged in, go to the “Games” tab.

Use the search bar to find Fallout: New Vegas, hover over its icon, and click “Manage”. Vortex will most likely find it automatically, however, if it doesn’t, it will ask you for the installation directory. Use the install path you noted down when you installed the game.

xNVSE, Multicore, and 4GB Patch

These are the most basic mods that you’ll need to play the game properly. Here’s a brief overview of what they do:

• xNVSE: Allows modders to access much more of the game, and add advanced features that would otherwise not be possible.
• Multicore: Allows the game to make use of multiple CPU cores and threads.
• 4GB Patch: Allows the game to utilize 4 gigabytes of memory, which allows you to add more mods.

NOTE: The GOG version comes pre-installed with both the Multicore and the 4GB patches, thus, there is no need to install them.

Download xNVSE, 4GB Patch, and Multicore Patch. They will be downloaded as “.rar” files, so you’ll need a program like WinRar to open them.

Copy the contents of all 3 of the downloaded files into your Fallout: New Vegas directory.

First, launch “FNVPatch.exe”. A Terminal window will open and automatically patch your FalloutNV.exe. Wait until it’s finished and close the window.

Next, launch 4gb_Patch.exe. A pop-up will open, asking you to select your FalloutNV.exe. Click on the “FalloutNV.exe” program inside your FNV folder, and press “Open”.

Now, your Fallout: New Vegas game is 100% ready for modding! You can use the “Mod Manager Download” button on any mod on the Fallout: New Vegas Nexus to download the mod, only one click required! 

IMPORTANT!: The 4GB Patch is meant to launch xNVSE alongside your game, even if it’s done through the regular launcher, however, if a mod you have installed is complaining that you don’t have xNVSE installed, you can try to launch the game through “nvse_loader.exe” instead, which may fix the issue. I personally launch the game through it every time, but it’s not necessary.

Final Tips

Fallout: New Vegas modding is an awesome experience that can alter any part of the game, however, don’t forget that modding the game can come with difficulties:

• Older mods, most of which are on the top of the “Most Endorsed” list of Nexusmods, are prone to making the game crash. Try to avoid older mods, especially graphical and gameplay mods, if possible. Mods to avoid include Project Nevada (use JAM instead), NMCs Textures (Use POCO BUENO or OJO BUENO instead), and other mods. 
• Downloading a lot of mods can lead to conflicts, which may break one or multiple mods. Always make sure to read the full description of the mod you’re downloading, and perhaps even the comments, to see if there are any mods that the mod author already determined to be incompatible.
• Many mods rely on other mods to work. Those mods can be found in the “Requirements” dropdown in the mod’s description. Download all of the mod’s requirements alongside your mod to ensure that it works as it should.