Fallout 4's 'next gen' update is over 14 gigs, breaks modded saves, and doesn't seem to change much at all (2024)

Fallout 4's 'next gen' update is over 14 gigs, breaks modded saves, and doesn't seem to change much at all (1)

Fallout 4's long promised next gen (really current gen) update is finally here after a two-year wait since its initial announcement, but it's not a winner on PC. We anticipated there would be the usual issues with mod compatibility (see the Fallout London devs delaying their highly anticipated project), but PC players aren't getting much benefit from the ~14.4 gig patch.

Here's a breakdown of the problems I've had myself or noticed others complaining about:

  • Issues loading modded saves and using non-Creation Club mods at all, including the essential Fallout 4 Script Extender.
  • The "next gen" patch does not introduce any graphical improvements.
  • The new ultrawide support has a poorly stretched user interface that will require a user made patch⁠—basically the same solution ultrawide gamers were using before the update.
  • Fallout 4's iteration of the Creation engine still doesn't support frame rates over 60fps.
  • The "Weapon Debris" graphics setting still causes the game to crash on RTX cards, an issue that has been present since RTX cards were introduced.

With all of that in mind, was it worth borking mod support and modded saves for this update? Looking at the patch notes, none of the minor bug fixes or added Creation Club content seem to justify the extent of the disruption from this update.

Modders had to similarly scramble to accommodate Skyrim's special edition and The Witcher 3's next gen update, but those patches had more to offer that justified their respective hassles, and The Witcher 3 still lets you download and play the pre-4.0 version of the game to this day. Fallout 4's next gen patch seems to be largely console-focused, introducing better support and options for PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, but I don't see why PC players should have to suffer for that.

I do have to give Bethesda credit for the unambiguously good things here: the collection of bug fixes in the next gen patch does include the resolution of a long-running glitch in the settlement system that modders even had a hard time addressing: "Resolved issue that could cause corruption within the Settlement system resulting in wrong resource counts and/or destroyed settlements." Moving forward, at least there'll be a 1% reduction in Preston Garvey bugging you whenever you come home.

The next gen update also includes some new free quests and gear from Bethesda's premium paid mod Creation Club, with the biggest addition being an Enclave-themed quest and some associated weapons and armor. It reminds me of the Witcher show-themed gear sets that were added in The Witcher 3's own fraught next gen update.

We can likely expect modders to fix their individual projects in the coming days and weeks, but if, like me, you've ever found yourself enamored of an abandonware mod, it might be worth it to delay auto updates on Steam and run Fallout 4 through an alternative launcher like F4SE⁠—absent official tweaks from Bethesda, you may also want to keep an eye out in case a user-made rollback patch shows up on the Nexus.

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Ted Litchfield

Associate Editor

Ted has been thinking about PC games and bothering anyone who would listen with his thoughts on them ever since he booted up his sister's copy of Neverwinter Nights on the family computer. He is obsessed with all things CRPG and CRPG-adjacent, but has also covered esports, modding, and rare game collecting. When he's not playing or writing about games, you can find Ted lifting weights on his back porch.

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Fallout 4's 'next gen' update is over 14 gigs, breaks modded saves, and doesn't seem to change much at all (2024)

FAQs

How to fix Fallout 4 can't save? ›

Check the hard drive that the game is installed to and ensure you have enough remaining space and remove any old saves you do not need. If you have enough space to save your game, check your antivirus and firewall to see if it is blocking any files from being created for Fallout 4.

Why won't Fallout 4 start after modding? ›

If you are having issues loading or starting the game after activating a large number of mods, you should clear all mods on your Xbox by clearing the Reserved Space for the title. If on PlayStation, the entire game will have to be uninstalled and reinstalled.

How do I repair my Fallout 4 save file? ›

Save games that are corrupted cannot be repaired. Please try loading a different save game from an earlier point to see if this resolves the issue. You can follow the steps below to help prevent this issue from happening again: We generally suggest making fairly frequent saves and alternate save game slots.

Why is my save disabled in Fallout 4? ›

Did you check at option with save enable/disable? Check your anti-virus or controlled folder access (Win10) is not blocking the saves, if either one is then add an exception for the fallout4.exe application.

Is Fallout 4 more CPU or GPU intensive? ›

Best answer. Fallout 4 leans more towards being GPU intensive rather than CPU. The game's vast open world, detailed textures, and lighting effects put more load on the GPU to render the post-apocalyptic environment vividly.

What is the most efficient Fallout 4 build? ›

The Sniper is the best overall build in Fallout 4 due to its range, survivability, and one-shot kill potential. The Sneak build plays similarly but relies on sneaking for perk optimization. However, the Sniper has all the range and damage without worrying about other gameplay mechanics besides headshots.

Is there a max level in Fallout 4? ›

Fallout 4 does not have a level cap; [Non-game 1] however, the game crashes upon leveling past 65,535. Fallout 76: 32,767; however, additional SPECIAL points cease to be received after level 50, capping a player character's total number of SPECIAL points at 56. Fallout Shelter: 50 for each dweller.

Can you max all stats in Fallout 4? ›

Originally Answered: What level is the maximum in fallout 4? There is no official level cap in Fo4; however once the player character reaches level 65,535 the game will crash and become unplayable. Even so, once you reach level 300 you will have all stats to 10 and own all perks; making going any higher pointless.

What happens if you disable mods in Fallout 4? ›

Disabling. Marking the mod as disabled in the mod manager. The game will provide a pop-up warning if the savegame is re-entered after disabling the mod. In most cases, re-entering a save after disabling a mod that save relied on will permanently damage the savegame.

Does reinstalling Fallout 4 delete mods? ›

This should delete the game from your computer, including the mods. You are then able to reinstall the game in its original form. After this, just import your saves to the new save folder, and you should be able to resume playing.

What does the unofficial Fallout 4 patch fix? ›

The goal of the Unofficial Fallout 4 Patch (aka UFO4P) is to eventually fix every bug with Fallout 4 not officially resolved by the developers to the limits of the Creation Kit and community-developed tools, in one easy-to-install package.

Why is everything retro in Fallout 4? ›

The game's developers wanted to capture the aesthetic of how people in the 1950s imagined the future would look like. This design choice creates a unique and nostalgic atmosphere in the game. Cultural Influence: The 1950s was a significant era in American history, characterized by the fear of communism and nuclear war.

How do I fix Fallout 4 crashing when I load a save? ›

- Delete all . ini files inside the Fallout 4 folder in Documents except Saves and F4SE if present and restore the game files via Steam. Make sure "weapon debris" is turned off in the start up menu under options/advance settings. Removing mods from an already modded save will usually make problems worse.

How do you save in Fallout 4? ›

"Fallout 4" takes into account that you'll want to be saving constantly in a few smart ways. The first smart way is by enabling a "Quicksave" option. Simply hit pause, select "quicksave," and jump back into the game. That's it.

Why does Fallout 4 keep saying not enough memory? ›

If you meet or exceed the storage limit, you will not be able to install any more mods and will receive this error message. The limit for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim SE is 5GB, the limit for Fallout 4 is 2GB.

How do I save my progress in Fallout? ›

To save the game, fast-travel to another location, complete missions, or quit the game to the main menu. These actions trigger an auto-save in Fallout 76 which preserves the progress by uploading it to the server. Note that Fallout 76 is an MMORPG requiring an internet connection to save data.

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