Modding Basics For Fallout 4 VR

Updated March 2025

This guide is focused on what I'd consider essential mods, and some recommended mods for decent VR gameplay in Fallout 4 VR. Fallout 4 VR is a separate game from standard Fallout 4. CD keys can be had for cheap from deals.gg and the like, and the game can be pirated as long as the exe isn't changed by the crack.
It's recommended to copy over the DLC from a regular copy of Fallout 4. In your Fallout 4/Data directory, copy every file beginning with DLC to your Fallout 4 VR/Data directory. If you accidentally upgraded to the 'next-gen' patch use this to downgrade your game and then copy the DLC over.

You probably should be using Mod Organizer 2 to manage your mods. Use Steam community bindings, especially with anything but Oculus controllers or Vive wands. This may be needed if you use a non Index headset with Index controllers. Modpacks for this game are pretty bad right now, even by modpack standards.

Recommended Essential Mods for Fallout 4 VR:

Fallout 4 VR Script Extender, VR Address Library, and VR Tools - are dependencies for many mods
Fallout 4 Version Check Patcher - Allows mods made after the November 2019 patch to be loaded, but with some caveats (See below)
DLCVR - Fixes bugs that the DLC may have in VR
Automatron Rebuild - To build robots and do the Automatron quests in VR
Fallout Priority - Helps performance by keeping the CPU priority high
Buffout NG - Fixes crashes and enables achievements
MCM VR - Allows you to configure mods
Disk Cache Enabler VR - Enables disk cache, less stutter
Baka Scrapheap - Allows scripts to use more memory. Mandatory for heavier mods like Sim Settlements 2.
High FPS Physics Fix - Scroll down in the downloads page to grab the VR version. Look at the .ini. Improves loading times.
FallUI and the VR Patch - For a decent UI with item sorting
Complex Item Sorter - To tag items for FallUI's sorting
FRIK - Adds a full first person body in VR. Allows you to reposition weapons and smooths out movement.
FRIK New Game Crash Fixes and/or SKK Fast Start - FRIK will crash when starting a new game. Ideally only enable FRIK after you leave the vault.
Virtual Holsters and Virtual Chems - To use chems and equip weapons via holsters attached to your body. Pair with the wrist based pip boy in game settings so you never use menus in combat.
See Through Scopes - Better than the vanilla black scopes
Better Scopes VR - Uses above to let you zoom in and have collimated sights
VR Weapon Overhaul - Fixes for See Through Scopes on a lot of mods
Kabuto VR - Adds immersive power helmets
Binaural 3D Surround Sound - Decent spatial audio
VR Perfkit, Reshade, or Fallout 4 Upscaler VR - Individually or in some combination, for sharpening, upscaling, and better anti aliasing if you need. The game is pretty blurry by default so at least sharpening is nice. SMAA via Reshade and DLAA via Upscaler VR can't hurt compared to >TAA. Consider using DLSS Swapper to improve DLAA by updating it to the newest version.

Also Consider:

Insignificant Object Remover - Removes twigs and stones that keep your drawcalls high
Fallout 4 VR FPS Stabilizer - Adjusts settings on the fly based on your framerate. Can help in areas like Corvega and downtown Boston.
PipBoy Light VR - Makes your PipBoy Light a handy flashlight
Lightweight Lighting - All in one lighting and weather improvements without killing compatibility or performance. Darker interiors make the above mod matter more.
Bullet Time VR - If you really don't like VATS. Allows (most) VATS perks to still work.
Optimized Vanilla Textures or Low-End Textures - If you are hurting for VRAM.
F4 Enhanced Color Correction - Adjusts LUTs to improve contrast. Everyone can enjoy better colors with no performance hit.
Generating LODs - Being able to see in the distance well really helps with immersion. Make sure to use the VR LOD fix and don't generate LODs for Diamond City or Goodneighbor.

ini Tweaks:

In Documents\My Games\Fallout4VR consider editing Fallout4Custom.ini
Tweak these numbers to your liking to have decent recoil and give yourself a reason to two hand weapons with FRIK.

[VR]
fRecoilMaxHorizDeg=3
fRecoilMaxVertDeg=100
fRecoilVertMultiplier=2.00

To move in the direction your head is facing

[VRInput]
bUseWandDirectionalMovement=0

To make your HUD not blurry on high res headsets

[VRUI]
iVRUIRenderTargetHeight=4096
iVRUIRenderTargetWidth=4096

To make hair not glow

[HairLighting]
fHairPrimSpecPow=2.0
fHairPrimSpecScale=0.01
fHairPrimSpecShift=0.26
fHairSecSpecScale=0.01
fHairSecSpecPow=2.0
fHairSecSpecShift=0.26

To make TAA less blurry

[Display]
fTAAPostOverlay=0.675
fTAAPostSharpen=0.675
fTAASharpen=1.0000
fTAAHighFreq=0.8000
fTAALowFreq=0.5000

Compatibility:

Unlike Skyrim VR, Fallout 4 VR doesn't have ENB. There is an experimental mod that enables .esl support and fixes lower formIDs. Otherwise any .esl plugins need to be renamed to .esp if you want to load them.

Mods made after the November 2019 update might have issues with overwriting base game records. If you are installing newer .esp mods I would recommend running xEdit 4.0.4 with the -IgnoreESL flag. After everything loads, look for the error "is being overridden by record". If you find plugins that report the error, run xEdit 4.0.3. Then right click the offending plugins, click "Renumber formIDs from", and type in "800". After that save your changes. Mods that rely on the edited plugins won't work anymore. None of the mods in this guide have this issue.

F4SE plugins need to be either be NG plugins (ie Buffout NG) or specifically compiled for VR. This means that XDI and mods that require it (Fallout London ;_;) won't work in VR.

UF4OP causes issues in VR, such as softlocks in the DLCs. Please don't use it. Arthmoor is a faggot.

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