IMPORTANT:
If you run into any issues at any point in the guide, please be sure to check the FAQ.
If your issue is not addressed there, join the Discord for support.

Manual Downloads

Root Mods

The following mods, unlike most others, need to be installed directly into the game's Root folder, not through Mod Organizer 2.

Use the Manual Download and follow the instructions provided for each mod.

An updated version of the original NVSE, which extends the scripting capabilities of the game.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - New Vegas Script Extender (xNVSE)
    1. Open the downloaded archive and move everything to the game's Root folder.

    If you do not know what the Root folder is, read the Key Terminology.

    Despite its name, nvse_steam_loader.dll is still needed with the non-Steam versions of the game.

    1. After proper install, your Root folder should look like this:
      Root folder with a correct xNVSE install

Decompresses archives for better loading time and fixes vanilla audio not playing.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - Vanilla BSAs Patcher

You can patch BSA files directly in the game's Data folder, or load patched copies as a mod in Mod Organizer 2. If backups are disabled, the former takes less storage space (4GB). The latter makes your setup more portable and removes the need to verify your game's files (or restore a backup) when, for example, installing Tale of Two Wastelands.

Directly in the Data folder

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  1. Extract the archive and run Vanilla BSAs Patcher.exe.
  2. The Fallout: New Vegas path should be filled by default. If it isn't, close the program and re-run your game launcher to generate the required registry key.
  3. The EGS release of the game does not create any keys! You need to select the game folder manually!

  4. Default settings are recommended, but HDD users should disable decompression.
  5. Click the Patch button.
  6. Click and wait for the program to finish, then exit.

As a mod in MO2

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  1. In MO2, click the tiny wrench icon at the top, next to the mod counter, then click Create empty mod.
  2. Title the mod Patched BSAs
  3. Right-click on your Patched BSAs mod and select Open in Explorer.
  4. From from newly opened window, copy the file path.
  5. Extract the archive and run Vanilla BSAs Patcher.exe.
  6. The Fallout: New Vegas path should be filled by default. If it isn't, close the program and re-run your game launcher to generate the required registry key.
  7. The EGS release of the game does not create any keys! You need to select the game folder manually!

  8. Default settings are recommended, but HDD users should disable decompression.
  9. Set the Custom output path to the one you copied earlier.
  10. Click the Patch button.
  11. Click and wait for the program to finish, then exit.

Optimizes and fixes thousands of records across the base game and DLC plugins to increase performance and stability.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - Ultimate Edition ESM Fixes Remastered
    1. Click the MO2 folder button button next to the profiles bar in MO2 and select Open Mods folder.
    2. Create an empty folder called Fixed ESMs inside of the Mods folder.
    3. Copy its path.
    4. Extract the archive and run Installer.exe.
    5. The Fallout: New Vegas path should be filled by default (Root folder). If it isn't, close the program and re-run your game launcher to generate the required registry key.
    6. The EGS release of the game does not create any keys! You need to select the game folder manually!

    7. Set the Mod folder path field to the one you copied earlier.
    8. Click Install and wait for the program to finish, then exit.
    9. In Mod Organizer 2, press F5 to refresh the left pane and enable Fixed ESMs by ticking its checkbox.

Game Patchers

Each version of the game requires a different patcher to work with xNVSE.
These patchers allow the game to use up to 4GB of RAM and automatically load xNVSE.

Select one of the following patchers based on your game version.

Steam and GOG

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Main Files - 4GB Patcher
  1. Open the downloaded archive and move the executable file to the game's Root folder.
  2. Double-click on FNVpatch.exe to run it.
  3. A command prompt window will open and it should say:
    FalloutNV.exe patched!
  4. Close the command prompt and a file named FalloutNV_backup.exe should appear in the game's Root folder.

Epic Games

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Main Files - Epic Games Patcher
  1. Open the downloaded archive and move everything to the game's Root folder.
  2. Double-click on Patcher.exe to run it.
  3. A command prompt window will open and after processing it should say:
    Press any key to continue...
  4. Close the command prompt and a file named FalloutNV_backup.exe should appear in the game's Root folder.

Mod Organizer Downloads

Managed

From now on, select Mod Manager Download to download mods - this will make the file appear in MO2's Downloads tab, ready to be installed according to the instructions earlier in the guide.

Creating a Separator in MO2

  1. Right-click the empty space in the left pane of MO2 and select Create separator.
  2. Name the separator Utilities.

NVSE extension with new functions and many engine bug fixes.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - JIP LN NVSE Plugin
  • Main Files - JIP LN Settings INI

Another NVSE extension similar to JIP LN.

Installation instructions

NVSE plugin adding new functions and engine-level tweaks & bugfixes.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - ShowOff NVSE
  • Optional Files - ShowOff INI

Fixes micro-stuttering, performance and allows playing at higher framerates (up to a safe maximum of ~120).

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - NVTF
  • Main Files - NVTF - INI

Resource for expanding and improving the game's limited animation system.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - kNVSE

Automatically ensures that multiple HUD extensions work together, as well as fixing many bugs and improving performance.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - UIO - User Interface Organizer

An NVSE plugin that adds automatic region list merging, which reduces the amount of patching needed for mods that add new regions.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - hNVSE

Another script extender plugin featuring new commands and event handlers, bug fixes, and tweaks.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - itr nvse
  • Main Files - itr nvse config

Raises the game's file handle limit and improves performance/loading times, even if you are far below it.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - MLF

A DLL that logs raw crash data.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - Crash Logger

Enhances the console's abilities to be able to execute and print results from all available script commands. Full scripting support inside console, including creating variables and evaluating NVSE expressions (arrays, strings) for easy mod development and prototyping. Mouse wheel scrolling included too.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - Improved Console

Adds Ctrl+V as a hotkey to paste into the in-game console, along with a few other helpful shortcuts.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - Console Paste

Allows loading shaders from loose files.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - Shader Loader - NVSE

Dynamically adds ISControl node system animation support and easy per-weapon sights adjustment.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - ISControl

Removes the Pause Menu option for exiting to the Main Menu, helping prevent issues that can arise from starting a new game after exiting.

Installation instructions

  • Main Files - No Exit to Main Menu

Game Configuration

Custom INI

In this step we will take advantage of JIP LN NVSE's FalloutCustom.ini feature to improve performance and stability without affecting the main INIs.

FalloutCustom.ini is a special settings file that overrides all other game INIs. This INI is exclusive to the user, meaning that the game or its launcher cannot change it.

This allows you to change settings without the fear of being overwritten, and removes the need of tracking which settings go into which file.

  1. Click the Tools drop-down button at the top of MO2 and select INI Editor.
  2. Select the FalloutCustom.ini tab, which should be blank. In case it's not, clear the file.
  3. If you don't see the FalloutCustom.ini tab:

    1. Click the MO2 profile settings button button at the top of MO2.
    2. Enable all options.

  4. Paste in the following:

It is highly recommended to avoid changing any other INI settings not in the guide, and to avoid using tools like Bethini. You will realistically not need any other tweaks than the ones already in the guide.

Testing Utilities

  1. Restart your PC (otherwise some plugins might fail to load).
  2. Install the ML Utilities Checker with Mod Organizer 2, just like the previous mods.
  3. Launch the game using the New Vegas option in MO2 (not NVSE).
  4. Launching the game
  5. Once the game has reached the main menu, wait a few seconds and you will see a message box from the Utilities Checker.
  6. If any utility fails the check, first visit the FAQ section. If you still need assistance, open a support thread in the ModdingLinked Discord server.

  7. Close the game and disable the ML Utilities Checker.

In-depth guide on how to fix the game's lackluster performance, display issues and alt-tabbing. Covers topics such as DXVK, framerate limiting, display modes, lag and HDR.