Fallout 5 has several improvements that could be made from its predecessor, one of which is how it can cater to the fanbase's most creative and hardworking side. Fallout 4 did give such players the ability to modify weapons and build settlements, which may have slightly scratched that itch. However, there is a tradition in the Fallout fandom that existed long before Fallout 4 and truly exploded when that game came out. The Fallout franchise has a healthy modding scene, and Fallout 5 should do its best to support that.
Mods have long been a part of the Fallout fandom, with New Vegas mods that restore cut content among other things, but Fallout 4 was the first to feature them as an official part of the game. Fallout 4 let players search through a wide selection of mods that have been made for the game, offering various enhancements and additions. This official acknowledgment helped a lot of well-made mods get more widespread attention and be enjoyed by more players than they would have otherwise. It would be disappointing if Fallout 5 were to backslide in this regard, given how well this system has worked.
Fallout's Modding Scene Is Remarkably Active
The Fallout games have a lot of dedicated modders that have created mods to affect several different aspects of the games, such as removing Fallout 3's Vault 101 backstory. Some can be as small as adding an extra item or weapon, and others overhaul entire parts of the game's design. A lot of the mods on display show a remarkable amount of effort from their makers. Creating new models and code, in addition to editing the rules of the game is an impressive undertaking. For some players, there are even mods that they essentially cannot play the game without after trying them once.
There is an impressive amount of content that has been created by modders. There are mods that can place entire arsenals of real-world guns into the game, add new creatures to Fallout 4, or offer entire wardrobes of outfits and armor for the player's character to wear. Mods have managed to significantly increase the size of the game, giving players a lot of new opportunities even in a series like Fallout that already gives players a wide-open world to explore. With so many mods to choose from, there's likely something that appeals to any sort of player.
From relatively realistic and lore-accurate mods to the more silly and fantastical ones, it's hard to deny that the Fallout mod community has been working hard for years to come up with ways to improve Fallout games through mods. It has reached the point where two different players could play Fallout 4 and have vastly different experiences depending on what mods they had chosen to use. The modding scene takes the sandbox nature of Fallout to a new level by enabling players to change the game itself. The fact that more Fallout 4 mods are still made years later only proves their dedication further.
Fallout Mods Can Make The Story Even Greater
Some of the most impressive mods that one can find for Fallout games and beyond are those that can add more layers to the game's overall story. The most determined modders have the potential to create new Fallout factions and quests, complete with characters, locations, and even entire plotlines to be added to the games. In fact, it's a surprise that some modders have yet to go into the industry, considering the things that they have managed to do with the games. Some of the extra content that modders have managed to fit in feels like a natural part of the world, like its presence there was always intended.
One of the best examples of such a mod may be The Forgotten City, which started as a mod for Skyrim that added a new quest before becoming its own game. Fallout mods that add new quests can create compelling stories that draw the player in through more content, whether it involves new characters, places to explore, or both. Some creations even include new voice acting for the characters involved to enhance the immersion. In the best circumstances, players can get so invested in the stories told by the mod that they spend hours before getting back to the game's main plot.
As shown by mods like The Forgotten City and Stardew Valley Expanded, keeping Fallout's modding community alive can lead to spectacular creations that add completely new stories to the game. Almost every player wants a good game to last as long as possible, and these types of mods manage to do exactly that. Essentially, it wouldn't hurt Fallout 5 to have a modding scene that wants the game to last as long as possible.
Fallout 5 Could Potentially Make Modding Even More Extensive Than Past Games
Mods for past Fallout games have shown that the players who make them can already do an impressive amount of things with the tools at their disposal. Fallout 5 could potentially open the door to further innovations. In addition to adding cut content to Fallout 5, being more open to modifications than past games could be a significant step forward. Since Bethseda has already given mods recognition and even lets them be installed in-client through players uploading them directly, the modding community has nowhere to go but up. One can only imagine what could be made with more tools available.
Fallout 5, depending on how much freedom it ends up giving modders, could end up as the most versatile game in the series' history. Expanding the possibilities for what can be done with mods could see an incredible new array of ideas coming out once Fallout 5 finally gets released for players to both play and work with. It would be interesting to see just how many aspects of the game could be changed or manipulated. Some could even go further and change the rules to make it more of a stealth game, dedicated shoot-em-up, or anything in-between. Hopefully, Fallout 5 will be able to have just as active a modding community, with even more possibilities.
Fallout 5 is in development.