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When a game updates that’s often great news - more content and bug fixes are always nice - but sometimes, a new update to an older game can break mods or cause problems on long-running save games.
Bethesda’sFallout 4’s next-gen update has been highly anticipated, but with amodding scene as vibrant and healthy asFallout 4has, many greatmods are incompatiblewith the latest update and may remain so for quite some time. Fortunately, there is a way to roll back the update and downgrade to a previousFallout 4release. Here’s how to do this using Steam’s console and the SteamDB.
(Optional) Back-Up The Existing Fallout 4 Install
It’s always a good idea to back up the existing installation just in case something goes wrong, or just to save time when switching back. Simply navigate to the install directory and copy it, then paste it somewhere else for safekeeping.
Enable the Steam Console
A little-known feature of the Steam client is that it has its own console which users can use to input various different commands to get Steam to do things. The Steam Console can be used here to download older versions of a game from patches that aren’t listed normally on the game’s updates or betas tab. To open the Steam Console on Windowspress the Windows key + R at the same time.This should open a command prompt. Into the command prompt type:steam://open/console, then press enter.
Once this is done the Steam Console should now appear in the Steam Client.
Find Fallout 4 on SteamDB
Next open SteamDB in an Internet browser and findFallout 4.Click onFallout 4to bring up the game’s page on SteamDB.
Next, note down theApp IDforFallout 4.
Find the Build ID and Manifest ID
Depending on the exact setup ofFallout 4,different files may need to be downloaded. Players with all the DLC forFallout 4should download all of the following files.
These are the files that need to be downloaded for a full installation ofFallout 4,ordered as App ID,Build ID,andManifest ID:
The next step is to download the selected packages using the Steam Console. This is done by inputting the correct code, consisting of the command plus the App ID, build ID, and manifest IDs of the given package. To do so, type:download_depot 377160 377162 5847529232406005096into the Steam Console and hit enter.
Download the packages in order and replace everything when it asks. This may take some time as the game needs to be re-downloaded.
Delete Creation Club Content from theFallout 4data folder
Most of the Creation Club content is incompatible with the older version ofFallout 4, so it needs to be removed from the data folder to get the rollback working. To do this navigate to whereFallout 4is installed and delete the Creation Club content.
Creation Club contentcan be easily distinguished from other content including mods by the prefix in its filename:ccBG.
Remember to play Fallout 4 in offline mode
To prevent Steam from trying to updateFallout 4to the latest version playFallout 4in Steam’soffline mode.
