In celebration of a decade of adventures in the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout 4, Bethesda has unveiled the Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S|X. This special edition not only marks ten years since the original’s debut but also brings a treasure trove of content for both new and returning players.
What’s Inside the Anniversary Edition?
This latest version of the beloved open-world RPG includes all six previously released DLCs (Far Harbor, Automatron, Nuka-World, Contraptions Workshop, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Wasteland Workshop), alongside over 150 items from the Creation Club. Players are set to enjoy new quests, companions, armors, weapons, skins, player homes, and Settlement system objects. Those eager to experience this edition on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 can anticipate its release next year. It’s priced at $59.99 for newcomers, $39.99 for those upgrading from the original game, and $19.99 for those with the Game of the Year edition.
Troubles with Mods
However, this anniversary launch isn’t without its hiccups. Much like the release of Skyrim Anniversary Edition four years ago, Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition has thrown a wrench into the workings of many fan-favorite mods. The root of the issue lies with F4SE, the mod extender analogous to Skyrim’s SKSE, which is not compatible with the updated game until further development.
Modders have swiftly devised a workaround to revert Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition back to version 1.10.984, allowing users to maintain their cherished modifications. The first guide for this process emerged from a Nexus Mods user, ocramuias, who shared their insights in the platform’s comments section.
Steps to Revert to the Previous Version
- Open the Steam console by pressing Win + R and pasting steam://open/console
- Run the following command inside the Steam console: download_depot 377160 377162 5698952341602575696
- This forces Steam to download the Fallout4.exe file (38 MB in size) from the previous build, version 1.10.984, which was originally released on May 13, 2024. When the download is complete, open the folder shown in the console log. This can usually be found in C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteamappscontentapp_377160depot_377162
- Once there, you must back up your current executable. Navigate to your game’s installation directory (for example, C:SteamLibrarysteamappscommonFallout 4), and rename the existing Fallout4.exe to Fallout4_111137.exe. Now, copy the previously downloaded file into that folder and replace the existing .exe file.
- At this point, it’s time to disable automatic updates for Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition. You can do that in Steam > Library > Fallout 4 > Properties > Updates > set “Only update this game when I launch it”. From now on, you’ll always have to launch the game through f4se_loader.exe rather than Steam.
- Also, set Fallout4.exe to Read-only by right-clicking with the mouse and going to Properties. This will prevent Steam from overwriting it.
Enjoy!