Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition Provokes Fan Backlash
The upcoming release of Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition is stirring up discontent within the gaming community, mainly due to concerns regarding modifications (mods). While details about the new edition remain scarce, it is anticipated that the update could disrupt several mods, including well-known ones that rely on coding scripts.
Celebrating a Milestone
This edition celebrates Fallout 4’s 10-year anniversary on November 10, coinciding with the launch of the Anniversary Edition. The bundle features the original game alongside all six DLCs and over 150 items from the Creation Club. Moreover, it introduces a revamped menu to explore official and community-driven add-ons, drawing parallels to features in Starfield and Skyrim Anniversary Edition. It will be accessible on PC and the latest two generations of PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Community Frustration
Since the announcement, a segment of fans has voiced dissatisfaction regarding the new edition’s implications for mod compatibility, especially with mods heavily dependent on scripting. Although such disruptions often accompany game updates, the situation is exacerbated by the fact that Fallout 4 is facing its second significant mod breakage in just 18 months. One frustrated user expressed their concerns on Reddit, stating, “I have like 400 mods on the thing. It’s hours of work to get that running and I’ll be damned if they **** it up for me.”
Paid Mods vs Community Content
Further complicating matters, players perceive that the Anniversary Edition may offer limited original content beyond advancing paid mods, now termed as Creations. The next-gen update previously launched also affected a considerable number of mods yet provided more content, including new quests and bug fixes, to help mitigate the issues.
Potential Mod Breakage
As current information indicates, any mod that uses the Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) is likely to cease functioning following the upgrade to Anniversary Edition. It remains unclear how the upgrade will be implemented, but previous experiences with Skyrim suggest that it could be released as downloadable content rather than a comprehensive new game.
Fragmentation in the Modding Community
All these factors may contribute to a further divided modding community, a trend initiated by the last update specifying different builds for mod creators. Players have even reverted to earlier Fallout 4 versions to retain access to former mods.
The release of Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition is shaping up to be a crucial moment, not just for the game itself but also for the entire modding community, as its influence continues to unfold.
