Fallout 4 users Beware time to backup those mods, The clocks Ticking

[orthus333]

Hi if you play Fallout 4 
This is for those of us that are not aware of the incoming destruction of mods and modelist's
 

I would back up your stuff
Todd is doing what they did to Skyrim SE with a money grab they are doing a Anniversary addition of Fallout 4 and New Vegas

is being sold with a lot of plastic junk
Release is due 10th November
So lot of mods are going to go Kaput

If they do the same as with skyrim SE with the automatic updates a lot of peoples load orders are going to be toast
They basically cant stand the fact that modders have made a old game better then they did for free
 

They are just adding 150 creation club stuff and paid mods no surprise there
No updates or real improvements just more money for them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FuFRmTQEnk

[IBAGadget]

Just don't update your game.
Turn off automatic updates on Steam (or just leave it Offline mode)

make backups of your Appmanifest and Fallout4.exe files

 

You can do this with New Vegas as well

 

People are still running Skyrim LE successfully, and I ran Skyrim SE for years before I chose to update, only doing so once the SKSE mods that I wanted got updated
I'm still running FO4 1.10.163

[t1aketo]

The only mod I know of with working clocks is Settlement object expansion pack. They have normal clocks, and digital institute looking clocks. And the mod is very worth it besides those objects if you like building
 

[judge007]

If you are running under a competent mod manager, set Steam to not update, and use good judgement when adding mods you will have no problems.

 

I originally had OldGen FO4 upgraded to NextGen.

Then I downgraded to 1.10.163.

I run Mod Organizer 2 so Steam doesn't get the chance to upgrade again.

 

No need for the words of gloom and doom.

[skybird]

What I have done more then a year ago is change the setting of the app manifest. I did same for skyrim and both games didnt update now for years. The steam setting itself is worthless. If you forget 1 time and try play the game it will update. I have also backups of both games but that is becasue I mess a lot with mods and occasionaly I ruin something

 

So for steam users. Go to directory steamapps. Then find this file: appmanifest_377160.acf  Open it with notepad to check if its really fallout 4. If correct you can close the file.

Then click right mouse on the appmanifest_377160.acf and choose properties. Under attributes make it read only then save. And your safe now. Next time steam wants to change the game it will give an error and not update.

[Operand]

Your options:

 

-- Set manifests read only.

The good: You can mostly play as usual in blissful ignorance

The bad: At any point steam can just decide - nah, you know what? you can't play the game if you fiddled with permissions

The ugly: Pray that steam plays by the rules (and doesn't change the app id because it's a major update at some point)

 

-- Have backups so no matter what happens, you can restore

The good: yep, you really have a way to restore no matter what

The bad: you have to take care of those backups, likely regularly. It could be a lot of space to waste.

The ugly: if you have 700+ modded install and you tinker with it regularly, backporting / merging your backups is ...

 

-- Just play through GoG

The good: full control over your stuff. No DRM nonsense in any way

The bad: no more convenience of all the steam blows and whistles.

The ugly: Proton go BRRRRRR. If you play on Linux.

[Samuraitech]

I bought GOG versions of all the major Bethesda games last year at this time.  Around the holidays you can usually get them for like $5 each.

 

I also got in the habit years ago of backing up all game directories and MO2 Directories.  

This is in case I screw something up, get a new PC, or game updates on Steam.  

 

[subaverage]

What makes Steam believe that the game is updated is the appmanifest. You can edit it yourself or make a backup of your FO4 folder, update the game, delete the new FO 4 game folder, play your backup back and set the appmanifest to read only. It will stay updated. Set Steam to update the game only on start and use the f4se_loader.exe to play FO 4 and don't verify game file integrity through Steam.

Edited November 13, 2025 by subaverage

[Gameplayer]

On 11/12/2025 at 4:25 PM, Samuraitech said:

I bought GOG versions of all the major Bethesda games last year at this time.  Around the holidays you can usually get them for like $5 each.

 

I also got in the habit years ago of backing up all game directories and MO2 Directories.  

This is in case I screw something up, get a new PC, or game updates on Steam.  

 

 

I should have done that with my Fallout 4 installation, wont muck it up this time.

Have enough drives with enough space it wont matter having a terabyte dedicated to Fallout 4.

[Samuraitech]

GOG is supposed to specialize in keeping older games working without updating it except for ensuring the games work with windows versions updates whatever.

 

The holidays are coming so now is the time to buy games at discounted prices.

 

All the games I have in GOG work fine except I did have issue with Skyrim SE  Skyrim AE with Race Menu not being updated for the GOG version.  I did need to use the Steam version for that. 

Expired may have updated for GOG now.  I have not checked recently.

 

Don't want to discuss Skyrim too much as this is a Fallout 4 post.

 

Edited November 14, 2025 by Samuraitech