Understanding the significance of Update 1.10.163 requires looking at what it changed, why it became a permanent home for modders, and how the 2024 "Next-Gen" update cemented its legacy. What Was Update 1.10.163?
If you bought the game on GOG, it's much easier. Because GOG provides DRM-free installers, you can often find and install the 1.10.163 version directly without needing any complex patchers.
If you want to play massive total conversion mods or older, unsupported community mods, you may need to downgrade your Steam version to 1.10.163.
– The GOG version never received the Next-Gen update and remains at 1.10.163 natively.
The Commonwealth Chronicle Date: May 2024 (Updated Analysis) Fallout 4 Update 1.10.163
: Fixed stuttering and hitching caused by Creations that edit NPC visuals. Performance is improved when using such Creations.
Suggested approach for players still on 1.10.163 (practical)
: Characters like apostrophes and accents no longer appear as boxes; Anniversary Upgrade prompts are properly sized on German, French, and Spanish language versions.
Following the release of 1.10.163, Bethesda paused frequent PC updates for several years. This long period of stability allowed mod authors to completely update their work for version 1.10.163. As a result, the largest and most foundational mods on platforms like Nexus Mods were perfected specifically for this version code, making it the most stable environment for heavily modded playthroughs. The Modern Dilemma: Update 1.10.163 vs. Next-Gen Updates Understanding the significance of Update 1
However, the rollout was far from smooth. The update went live initially in late April 2024, but multiple emergency patches followed, culminating in the build as the definitive (and controversial) state of the game.
: Players can now place markers, fast travel, and pan the map to the right side in the Pip-Boy when using ultrawide resolutions.
and will result in hash errors.
April 11, 2024 (PC, Xbox, PlayStation) Patch Size: ~650 MB (PC) Classification: Minor Version Increment (1.10.162 → 1.10.163) Because GOG provides DRM-free installers, you can often
The easiest method is downloading a community-made downgrader tool from modding platforms like Nexus Mods. These automated tools safely replace your current executable with the 1.10.163 files.
Note that Bethesda Support states corrupted save files cannot be repaired and require loading an earlier state.
For the first time on consoles, Fallout 4 could leverage the boosted hardware of the mid-generation refreshes to render the Commonwealth in higher fidelity.
Always launch the game using the f4se_loader.exe via a mod manager like Vortex or Mod Organizer 2, bypassing the standard Steam launcher completely. Final Verdict