Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163 (2024)

Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163 is a paper trail of transition. It marked the end of the active development cycle for Fallout 4, pivoting the game from a narrative RPG into a stable platform for Creation Club sales. It bridged the gap between the standard consoles and the 4K era, providing a visual benchmark that would carry the game for years

update 1.10.163 (released December 5, 2019) is widely considered the final "pre-Next-Gen" or "Old-Gen" version of the game. While newer updates like 1.10.984 (Next-Gen) and 1.11.137 (Anniversary Edition) have since been released, 1.10.163 remains a critical milestone for the modding community due to its stability and compatibility. Update Highlights (Original Release)

Virtual Workshops: Added this major Creation Club item, which allows players to travel to new VR-simulated worlds like Grid World and the Capital Wasteland's GNR Plaza from their settlements.

ESL File Support: Continued support for the .esl file format, allowing players to load hundreds of small mods without hitting the standard 255-plugin limit.

Stability Fixes: Included various unlisted bug fixes intended to resolve crashes and lockups introduced in the previous November 2019 patch. Current Significance for Players

Today, 1.10.163 is primarily relevant for PC players who wish to use a vast library of "legacy" mods that were broken by the 2024 Next-Gen update.

For players and modders of is often referred to as the "holy grail" or the most stable baseline for the game. Originally released on December 4, 2019

, this version has become the primary target for the game's most ambitious mods and stable community-maintained lists. Why Version 1.10.163 Still Matters

While Bethesda has released subsequent updates, including the 2024 "Next-Gen" update and the Anniversary Edition

in late 2025, 1.10.163 remains the preferred choice for a large segment of the community for several reasons:

Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163: The Definitive Legacy Version Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163, released on December 4, 2019, holds a unique place in the game's history. While originally just a minor patch adding Creation Club content and bug fixes, it has since become the "gold standard" for PC modding. This version is often cited as the most stable and compatible release prior to the major "Next-Gen" updates that broke many long-standing community mods. Key Content and Features Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163

The primary addition in the 1.10.163 patch was the introduction of the Virtual Workshops Creation Club item. This feature allows players to:

Travel to New Worlds: Use a VR pod to visit exotic landscapes like Grid World, Atomic Crater, Desert Island, and GNR Plaza from Fallout 3.

Limitless Building: Access nearly infinite resources and significantly higher building limits within these virtual spaces.

New Workshop Items: The update included 40 new workshop items, many of which can be crafted in standard "real-world" settlements. Bug Fixes and Stability

While Bethesda did not release a formal, comprehensive changelog, player reports and developer notes indicated several technical improvements:

Crash Mitigation: Addressed various lockups and crashes that occurred following the previous November 2019 update.

Creation Club Reliability: Fixed several unlisted issues related to the performance and downloading of Creation Club content.

Version Support: Added support for ESL file formats, allowing for more mods to be installed simultaneously without hitting the traditional 255-plugin limit. Why Version 1.10.163 Matters Today

For modern players, the significance of 1.10.163 is largely tied to modding compatibility.

The "Modding Oasis": Many of the most popular and complex mods—including the Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) and its dependencies—were perfectly calibrated for this version for years. Fallout 4 Update 1

GOG Version Stability: The DRM-free version of Fallout 4 sold on GOG.com remains locked at version 1.10.163, making it the preferred choice for players who want a stable modding experience without forced Steam updates.

Downgrading: Because subsequent updates (like the "Next-Gen" patch) often break essential modding tools, a large portion of the community uses downgrading tools to revert their Steam installation back to 1.10.163. Summary of Platform Differences Version Number Key Difference PC (Steam/GOG) Standard for most script-heavy mods. PlayStation 4

Identical content to 1.10.163 but uses a different versioning scheme. Xbox One Consistent with the PC versioning. 10.163 for modding?

Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163: The Ultimate Legacy Version Fallout 4 update 1.10.163 has evolved from a routine maintenance patch into the "gold standard" for the PC modding community. While newer versions like the Next-Gen Update (1.10.984) and the Anniversary Edition (1.11.137) offer additional content, version 1.10.163 remains the preferred choice for players seeking maximum stability and compatibility with classic mods. Release and Core Features

Originally released on December 4, 2019, version 1.10.163 (known as version 1.34 on PlayStation 4) was a mandatory update focused on the Creation Club ecosystem.

Creation Club Content: The primary purpose of the patch was to add support for new Creation Club items, including those that had been previously delayed.

Message of the Day: This update introduced a feature to the main menu that provides players with news and updates directly from Bethesda.

Technical Support: It included support for the ESL file format, which allows for a larger number of small mods to be loaded without hitting the traditional 255-plugin limit.

Mod Details Page: Players could now see patch version numbers and notes directly on the Mod Details page for easier management. Why 1.10.163 is the Modder's Choice

Following the release of the "Next-Gen" update in 2024, version 1.10.163 became an essential "anchor" for the community. The newer updates broke essential dependencies like the Fallout 4 Script Extender (F4SE) , making many older but vital mods inoperable. The primary stated purpose of 1

Maximum Stability: Community members on Reddit and Nexus Mods cite 1.10.163 as the most stable environment for complex load orders.

Universal Compatibility: A vast majority of the most popular mods on Nexus Mods were designed for this version. While some have been updated for newer versions, many niche or "abandoned" gems only function correctly on 1.10.163.

The GOG Advantage: The version currently sold on GOG.com is pinned at 1.10.163, providing a DRM-free and update-shielded experience for modders. How to Access Version 1.10.163

If you are playing on Steam and want to revert from the latest version to this classic build, you can use several methods:

The primary stated purpose of 1.10.163 was "new Creation Club content." Specifically, it laid the groundwork for the Capital Wasteland Mercenaries pack, allowing players to hire classic mercenary companions like Butch DeLoria from Fallout 3.

This update is emblematic of the "limited time free offer" marketing strategy employed by Bethesda. By releasing the content for free for a limited window, Bethesda incentivized the installation of the patch. However, for the PC modding community, this update was a source of consternation. Unlike traditional mods, Creation Club content is curated and installed via a proprietary interface separate from the standard mod menu. Update 1.10.163 enforced this bifurcation, reinforcing the divide between the "Official" (paid) ecosystem and the "Community" (free) ecosystem.

For console players, this update highlighted the restrictions of the Creation Engine. Unlike PC players who could use script extenders to bypass limitations, Update 1.10.163 reminded console users that their modding capabilities were strictly gatekept by the publisher, with the Creation Club serving as the only source of "script-heavy" additions that bypassed the console memory limitations.

Because 1.10.163 offered no tangible benefits to mod users but broke F4SE, many in the modding community immediately created downgraders (e.g., the "Fallout 4 Downgrader" on Nexus Mods) to revert to 1.10.162. Bethesda did not comment on this, but the patch was widely seen as a necessary evil to prepare servers for the much larger next-gen update that followed a month later.

The reaction to Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163 is a perfect microcosm of Bethesda’s legacy.

“It’s like Bethesda replaced our water purifier with a shiny new one that leaks rads. Sure, it looks nicer… but why did they touch the pipes?” — Reddit user u/Wasteland_Junkie