How to play Fallout: New Vegas multiplayer over Meshnet

Learn how you can use Meshnet to play Fallout: New Vegas in multiplayer mode.

Introduction

The Fallout series, renowned for its customizable gameplay and expansive open-world exploration, captivates both avid gamers and casual players alike. Despite Fallout: New Vegas being a single-player game, dedicated fans have developed modifications enabling multiplayer servers, offering an opportunity for shared adventures in its vast world.

By default, multiplayer servers in Fallout: New Vegas are limited to the local area network (LAN), restricting access for those outside your home network. However, this limitation can be circumvented by using Meshnet — a solution that allows you to link devices around the globe to a virtual device network, without the need for port forwarding. Once linked, the devices can connect as if they were physically on the same network. Such a setup allows players from different locations to connect to your server without restrictions.

This article showcases how you can set up your own Fallout: New Vegas multiplayer server on Windows and enjoy the game with your friends.

Before you begin

Make sure that all players have a copy of Fallout: New Vegas available on their PC. Additionally, if you have played the game before and have files left on your computer, be sure to reset the game. Otherwise, the multiplayer add-ons may not function.

Resetting the game

1. Launch Steam and go to the Library tab.

2. From the list on the left, right-click Fallout: New Vegas and select Manage > Browse local files.

   

3. Delete all files in the folder that opens.

4. Back on Steam, right-click Fallout: New Vegas once again, and choose Manage > Uninstall.

5. Open File explorer.

6. In the address bar, enter the path below and press Enter: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\FalloutNV

   

7. Delete all files, except for the Saves folder.

After completing these steps, install Fallout: New Vegas again.

Prepare Fallout: New Vegas for multiplayer

You’ll need to carry out these instructions on all devices that will be playing on the Fallout: New Vegas server. By following these steps, you will install the required modifications and get the game ready for multiplayer action.

Setting the graphics options

To begin, ensure that the game’s installation is finalized and configure your preferred visual options:

1. Open Steam and launch Fallout: New Vegas to install run-time dependencies.

2. Click Exit to close the launcher.

   

3. Open the Fallout: New Vegas installation directory. By default, it is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout New Vegas

4. Right-click FalloutNVLauncher.exe and select Run as administrator.

5. Select Options, and choose your preferred resolution and graphics settings.

6. Click Play.

   

7. Once the game launches, click Quit and select Exit game.

Validating game files

Now, you should verify the integrity of the game’s files using Steam’s built-in tools:

1. Open Steam and go to the Library tab.

2. Locate Fallout: New Vegas, right-click it, and select Properties.

   

3. On the left, select Installed files and click Verify integrity of game files.

   

4. Once completed, close the dialog.

Installing stability modifications

Next, install modifications to help the game run smoothly in multiplayer mode.

Note

To download two of the required modifications, you will need a NexusMods account. You can create an account for free on the NexusMods registration page.

4GB patcher

The 4GB patcher adjusts the game’s files increasing its allowed random access memory (RAM) usage from the default 2GB to 4GB. This leads to better performance and smoother overall gameplay.

1. Navigate to the 4GB patcher page of the NexusMods website.

2. Click Slow download.

   

   If you have a premium account, choose Fast download instead.

3. Open the downloaded archive.

4. Extract the FNVpatch.exe file to the Fallout: New Vegas installation folder.

5. Launch FNVpatch.exe.

6. Verify that the command line dialog output says FalloutNV.exe Patched! and close it.

   

Script extender

The New Vegas script extender (NVSE) enhances the game’s engine for increased modding and scripting availability.

1. Visit the Releases page of the New Vegas script extender GitHub repository.

2. Download the latest available .7z archive.

   

3. Extract the archive’s content to the Fallout: New Vegas installation folder.

Anti-crash

The New Vegas anti-crash (NVAC) modification aims to minimize the number of unexpected game crashes.

1. Go to the New Vegas anti-crash page of the NexusMods website.

2. Click Slow download.

   

   If you have a premium account, choose Fast download instead.

3. Extract the contents of the downloaded archive to the Data folder of the Fallout: New Vegas installation folder. Example C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout New Vegas\Data

Setting the load order

Now, you need to set the load order for the game’s plugins:

1. Visit the Releases page of the Loot GitHub repository.

2. Download the latest available Windows installer file.

   

3. Launch the downloaded executable and install Loot.

4. Using Windows Search, search for loot and click Run as administrator.

   

5. In the upper-left corner, ensure that Fallout: New Vegas is selected.

   

6. Click Update masterlist, select Sort plugins, and click Apply sorted load order.

7. Exit Loot.

Downloading New Vegas: Multiplayer

Finally, you can download and run the Fallout: New Vegas multiplayer client.

1. Visit the Releases page of the New Vegas multiplayer client GitHub repository.

2. Download the latest available build_release_client.zip archive.

   

3. Extract the archive’s content to the Fallout: New Vegas installation folder.

4. Right-click nvmp_launcher.exe and choose Run as administrator.

5. Click Launch in offline mode.

   

You should now see the New Vegas: Multiplayer window from which you can either start your server or connect to your friend’s server.

Note

If you receive a Windows Defender SmartScreen dialog when opening nvmp_launcher.exe, select More info and click Run anyway.

Play Fallout: New Vegas over Meshnet

With all of the setup taken care of, you can start your server, connect to it, and start playing.

Starting your server

To initialize your Fallout: New Vegas server, in the lower-left corner of the New Vegas: Multiplayer window, click Launch local server.

You should see a Command Prompt window appear indicating that the server is running.

Note

If the Windows security alert box appears when starting the server, select both the private and public networks options, and then click the Allow access button to allow incoming connections through the firewall.

Connecting to the server

To join your server:

1. Copy the Meshnet IP address of the device that is running the Fallout: New Vegas server from the NordVPN app.

2. In the lower-left corner of the New Vegas: Multiplayer window, select Connect via IP.

   

3. In the dialog that opens, paste the copied IP address followed by :27015.

   Example

   

   If you’re connecting from the same device that is running the server, replace the IP address with localhost, as such: localhost:27015

4. Click Connect.

5. Once the game launches, start either a new game and load your previous save file.

Now you can enjoy the endless possibilities of the Fallout: New Vegas world with friends!