Developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda in 2010, Fallout: New Vegas is a fan-favorite entry in the storied RPG series. Technical issues aside, Fallout: New Vegas's base campaign was well-received upon release, and time has only enhanced the RPG's reputation.
Over the years, an active and dedicated modding community has developed for the game, leading to some truly great additions and creations that enhance the experience. While some mods add new story content or improve the visuals, others seek to introduce a whole new dimension to Fallout: New Vegas.
The Fallout: New Vegas Multiplayer Mod
Several years ago, a multiplayer mod was created called "NVMP". The project was scrapped by the developers in 2019, and for two years the community was left without a reliable multiplayer mod. In early 2021, the developers decided to re-launch the mod with ongoing development.
Players can finally rejoin the multiplayer community in Fallout: New Vegas. The new mod fixes sync issues while giving gamers the ability to create their own private servers. These changes are quite extensive for a handful of creators. While the new mod is still undergoing maintenance, people are encouraged to join the community, and this guide will explain how.
How To Get NVMP-X
To join the test servers and try out the revitalized multiplayer experience, people can join the NVMP-X Discord server here. Players will need a Discord account to join the community. Once in the Discord, they will have all the instructions they need to download the software and hop into the game. For now, users will be thrust into the test server as soon as they follow the instructions below.
First, download the installer and join the voice channel in Discord. Next, the launcher will open Fallout: New Vegas and immediately connect to the active server. There are already more than 20,000 members and it is common for more than 10,000 players to be online during peak hours. The player base continues to grow, and as new features get added to the mod, there's no telling how big it could get. Based on how popular open-world RP servers are at the moment, NVMP-X could rival Fallout 76 at some point.
New Features In NVMP-X
NVMP-X is a completely rewritten version of the multiplayer mod. The developers have spent a lot of time re-working the multiplayer to fix some of the issues that arose in the first version. Players will spawn into Good Springs, which is a safe zone. PVP is disabled there to protect new members from being spawn killed. The main changes people will notice are the RPG-esque names and levels displayed above each character. Additionally, voice and text chat are features available to those on the server. Fallout 76 doesn't even have a text to chat feature.
While co-op is still in development, people can jump in with their friends and explore the expansive map in New Vegas. The revamped mod runs really well so far, and many of the issues and bugs from the 2019 mod have been addressed. PVP is an option outside of safe zones, but the developers have rules about RDM'ing. Make sure that the users all agree to fight before firing the first shot. This is, of course, still a test server, and members will want to adhere to the rules so they can play the finalized version on the same character.
Next Steps For Developers
As of August 2021, private servers are still undergoing development and will hopefully be available soon. The developers have frequently updated the Discord community on progress and maintain that private servers are a top priority. Once there are private servers, it will open up a new realm of possibility for multiplayer mods. Players will be able to join servers that are completely focused on PVP, offering a completely new experience in the franchise.
Co-op is another important feature that will be included in a more complete version of NVMP-X. It is actually the only necessary feature missing from the test server in its current state. The plan at the moment is to have at least one public server that has a larger scale MMO feel to it.
If the servers begin to fill up, the developers are free to host even more public servers for the player base. Time will tell if there is enough interest to have a healthy player base that can support dozens of servers. However, it appears that NVMP-X has already exceeded expectations. On such a short timetable, the developers have managed to create a nearly finished product.