Nyreason

Introduction

Fallout 4 is a fantastic game, but let’s be honest—the vanilla graphics haven’t aged gracefully. Thankfully, the modding community has worked wonders in transforming the Commonwealth into a breathtaking, photorealistic wasteland. Whether you want crisp high-resolution textures, cinematic lighting, or immersive weather effects, this guide will help you mod your game to graphical perfection!

Step 1: Preparing for Modding

Before diving into visual enhancements, set up your game for smooth modding:

1. Install a Mod Manager – Use Mod Organizer 2 (MO2) or Vortex for easy mod management.
2. Enable Loose Files & Archive Invalidation – Modify your Fallout4.ini and Fallout4Prefs.ini files (located in Documents/My Games/Fallout 4):[Archive] bInvalidateOlderFiles=1 sResourceDataDirsFinal=
3. Install Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) – Essential for many advanced mods.
4. Sort Your Load Order – Use LOOT (Load Order Optimization Tool) for stability.

Step 2: High-Resolution Texture Overhauls

Textures are the backbone of visual enhancements. Here are the best texture mods:

1. Fallout 4 HD Overhaul

• Author: luxor8071
• This mod completely revamps Fallout 4’s textures, giving buildings, landscapes, and objects a crisp, photorealistic appearance.
• Installation Tip: Choose 2K or 4K versions based on your system’s performance.

2. Vivid Fallout – All in One

• Author: Hein84
• Offers improved landscape, roads, rocks, trees, and interiors while maintaining a vanilla-friendly look.
• Installation Tip: If using alongside Fallout 4 HD Overhaul, install this after and overwrite lower-resolution textures.

3. FlaconOil’s Complete Retexture Project

• Enhances details for everything from weapons and armor to buildings and nature.
• Installation Tip: Works well with Vivid Fallout for a well-balanced mix of sharpness and realism.

Step 3: ENB Presets for Cinematic Graphics

ENB presets drastically improve lighting, shadows, reflections, and depth of field.

1. PRC – Photorealistic Commonwealth

• Author: L00
• Why? The ultimate ENB for a realistic, high-contrast look with sharp details.
• Installation Tip: Download ENBSeries from Boris Vorontsov’s site first, then install PRC.

2. Vogue ENB – Cinematic and Performance Friendly

• Author: GameVogue
• Why? Provides a stunning filmic effect without tanking FPS.
• Installation Tip: Adjust depth of field settings in enbseries.ini for a sharper or blurrier look.

3. NAC X – Weather and ENB Combo

• Why? Not just an ENB, but an all-in-one lighting and weather overhaul.
• Installation Tip: Works best with Reshade for additional color correction.

Step 4: Weather and Atmosphere Enhancements

A dynamic atmosphere makes the Commonwealth more immersive. These mods improve lighting, fog, and storms:

1. True Storms – Wasteland Edition

• Adds intense storms, better rain effects, and immersive soundscapes.
• Installation Tip: Use the mod’s MCM menu to customize storm intensity.

2. Vivid Weathers – Fallout 4 Edition

• Over 75 unique weather types, from radioactive storms to soft sunsets.
• Installation Tip: Compatible with most ENBs, but may require brightness adjustments.

3. Polluted Climate

• Gives Fallout 4 a grittier, more apocalyptic atmosphere with heavy smog and dust.
• Installation Tip: Best used with Darker Nights for a true survival horror feel.

Step 5: Performance Optimization for High-End Mods

With all these upgrades, maintaining FPS is key. Here’s how:

1. Use Bethesda Performance Textures – A balance between quality and FPS.
2. Install Insignificant Object Remover – Reduces small, unnecessary objects for performance gains.
3. Disable God Rays in Fallout4Prefs.ini for a noticeable FPS boost.
4. Use Optimized Vanilla Textures – Helps weaker GPUs handle heavy mods.

Conclusion: Build Your Perfect Wasteland!

With these visual enhancement mods, your Fallout 4 experience will be truly next-gen. Whether you aim for hyper-realism or a stylized cinematic look, these mods provide the tools to craft your ideal Commonwealth. Now, install your mods, tweak those ENB settings, and step into a breathtaking post-apocalyptic masterpiece!

Happy modding, Vault Dweller!