Is it better to mod the newest version of fallout or pre AE

[garniu]

I have been thinking about downloading mods again (my hard drive died 4 years ago and I lost my modlist which wasn't as big as my skyrim modlist but still I lost interest) is it better to mod with the newest version in mind or is pre AE still superior in terms of mods and compatibility. I'm still holding that steam patch for FO4 since AE came out.

[plutocene]

Consensus is to downgrade to .163 using https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/81933?tab=description

or other methods.

[Aylis]

In the long run AE will become standard (just like with Skyrim).

 

Atm I'm updating my guide for all versions of the game. I myself run 'AE Light' (aka without buying the CC pack) and found only a few non-important mods that stopped working. Otherwise it works nicely and I see no reason to downgrade.

 

Spoiler

 

[garniu]

On 3/12/2026 at 8:29 PM, plutocene said:

Consensus is to downgrade to .163 using https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/81933?tab=description

or other methods.

I don't really like using the downgrader and instead I prefer to install the old version through steam servers which is more complex than using the downgrader but I'll be certain that nothing goes wrong.

[garniu]

On 3/12/2026 at 11:36 PM, Aylis said:

In the long run AE will become standard (just like with Skyrim).

 

Atm I'm updating my guide for all versions of the game. I myself run 'AE Light' (aka without buying the CC pack) and found only a few non-important mods that stopped working. Otherwise it works nicely and I see no reason to downgrade.

 

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Well then AE version it is thanks for the replay. Also "AE Light" is really just called AE as the CC content doesn't really matter but the free update does, well at least that's what the modding community calls it (and me).

[plutocene]

10 hours ago, garniu said:

Well then AE version it is thanks for the replay. Also "AE Light" is really just called AE as the CC content doesn't really matter but the free update does, well at least that's what the modding community calls it (and me).

 

It's your funeral.

[pakinbaos]

For the time being OG version is way to go until Bestheda finishing updating AE. From what heard from Midnight Ride discord, a number of mod author s are going to moving their mod to AE version, but that really comes down when the final update happens.

So if you really want to play, OG is most stable and best version for modding, if you’re willing to wait, I would just wait until AE is fully up to date. 

[katrina.balanchuk]

On 3/12/2026 at 7:38 PM, garniu said:

I have been thinking about downloading mods again (my hard drive died 4 years ago and I lost my modlist which wasn't as big as my skyrim modlist but still I lost interest) is it better to mod with the newest version in mind or is pre AE still superior in terms of mods and compatibility. I'm still holding that steam patch for FO4 since AE came out.

Many new mods coming out still specifically for .163 aka OG, aka Legacy aka pre Apr24

And the ones that come out for AE are usually backwards compatible (sometimes with a tool for backconvert the BA2 file headers)

 

very very few mods work for AE but not for .163.

but a great any mods still only work on .163

 

The golden Age of Fallout 4 modding predated Apr'24.

Some great new mods come out still but the flurry of new ones per month that we saw pre Apr '24 isnt there.

So even now the majority of mods in existnence, was written on and for .163

Edited April 28 by katrina.balanchuk