Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas shares many similarities with Fallout 3 in terms of its engine and performance. A key difference is that Fallout: New Vegas is a Steamworks game, whereas Fallout 3 used Games For Windows Live.
Version Differences
Fallout: New Vegas uses Steamworks which means that all versions, including retail and digital distribution, all require Steam to be used. All versions are sold with a serial key which can be redeemed on Steam. This also applies to its DLC. The most complete version of the game, including its 6 pieces of DLC, is known as the Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition.
Loading DLC
Once DLC is bought and downloaded, it must be enabled from the splash screen of Fallout: New Vegas, under the 'Data Files' menu option. Make sure each DLC pack is checked.
Load Order
An incorrect load order is one of the most common, and easily fixable, causes of mod-related crashes. When you open FOMM, you'll see a list of the mods you have installed. You can drag them around to rearrange the load order. FalloutNV.esm should always be the first file, followed by any DLC you have installed (DeadMoney.esm, HonestHearts.esm, OldWorldBlues.esm, LonesomeRoad.esm, GunRunnersArsenal.esm, CouriersStash.esm). No exceptions. Some mods will tell you in the description or readme that they need to be in a specific place in the load order; you should follow that. If you installed a mod, the load order is correct, and you're crashing, first try disabling every file on that list except FalloutNV.esm, the DLCs, the mod you installed, and any dependencies it may have. If it still crashes, something's wrong with that mod. Otherwise, turn on the other mods one by one until you find the one that's causing the crash.
Issues
FalloutNV.exe has stopped working
- Modifications made to the windows registry by certain programs, to terminate applications faster. This works to reduce the time taken between a program stopping responding and it being able to be "killed". However, this can often cause an issue in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas and other Bethesda Titles where they are terminated by Windows before it can respond. Programs such as Game Booster 2 (and later versions) may make these modifications to improve performance, these modifications can be reverted in Game Booster by going to "Tools > Tweaks" then checking both "End hung applications faster" options, finally clicking "Restore > Restore to Windows default" at the bottom of the page.
- The VOIP program Mumble also has known compatibility issues with Fallout Games, simply closing Mumble before launch and then open it again once the game has loaded should suffice.
Game Stuck on Loading Screen
When attempting to 'Continue' a game, the game will sometimes get stuck on a perpetual loading screen. Sometimes attempting to 'Load' the most recent save game will allow the game to start properly. Sometimes this doesn't work, however. In cases when loading a saved game doesn't work, try starting a new game and playing it to the point where Doc Mitchell tells you to go to the Vigor Tester machine. At this point the game will autosave, and Loading your previous save should work now.
Graphical Tweaks
No HUD
This mod removes the heads up display in the game, which can provide a more immersive gameplay experience. A known bug is that the letters "HP" still remain in the bottom-left of the screen. The developer has not yet fixed this issue.
Immersive HUD - iHUD
An alternative to No HUD is iHUD. Its aim is to provide the immersive feel you get from having no HUD, whilst keeping the usefulness of having one. It takes the permanently visible HUD elements such as HP, AP, radar etc, and hides them when not needed.
Edit Resolution
The resolution can be changed manually. This is useful for editing the windowed size, which may not allow the selection of the native desktop resolution.
Windows 7: C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\My Games\FalloutNV\FalloutPrefs.ini
These files can be edited to manually change the resolution:
Width: iSize W=1366
Height: iSize H=768
The FalloutPrefs.ini
can be made into read-only mode in order for the game launcher to not overwrite the new settings.
Mods
Fallout Mod Manager (FOMM) is mandatory for installing mods. New Vegas Script Extender (NVSE) is used by some mods; if the mod's description says it requires NVSE, you should get it.
How to Install Mods
If the mod contains .esp and/or .esm files, extract them directly to Fallout: New Vegas' data folder. The data folder is
C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/fallout new vegas/Data/
on 64 bit windows, on 32 bit windows it is just "Program Files" as opposed to "Program Files (x86)". If you have Steam installed in a different directory, it should be there. Open FOMM, find the mod's files in the list, and check the checkbox to activate them. To deactivate the mod, uncheck it.
If the mod is a .fomod file, open FOMM, click "Package Manager", click "Add FOMod", and find the file. You should then see a new entry in the package manager. Click on it, then click Activate. Follow the instructions and it should be installed (this may take some time, and it may look like it's freezing, but it's usually not). To deactivate it, go back to the package manager, click the mod, and click Deactivate.
Save Game Data
Save Game Folder Location
- Windows 7:
C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\My Games\FalloutNV\Saves
Steam Cloud
Despite being listed as including Steam Cloud support, no save game data is actually synced.
Improvements
Borderless Fullscreen Windowed
GameCompanion works well with Fallout: New Vegas. However, it appears as the program keeps the Fallout: New Vegas game process running in the background even if the game has been closed. The game can be shut down properly by going into the task manager to kill the task FalloutNV.exe
.
- ShiftWindow - taskbar will appear on top of the game.
- PCGamingWiki AutoHotKey Script - does not work.