How to install Fallout London on Steam Deck (Automated)

This ambitious Fallout 4 mod recently received an update. Here's how to play Fallout: London on Valve's Steam Deck handheld, thanks to our 1-click-installer.

Changelog 2024-10-28:

• Added downloadable Troubleshooting Guide

Changelog 2024-08-21:

• Improved SD Card Support
• Added support for GOG version of Fallout 4

Changelog 2024-08-10:

Fallout: London was updated (full patch notes on their Discord), so we also updated our script to be able to install the new version. To update to the new version, you need to do this:

• Run the script again as explained below but choose Update at the beginning.
• Heroic Launcher will open automatically. Here, update Fallout London. Close Heroic Launcher when the updates are done.
• GOG Installer will launch, pick drive H:, and close the installer once done.
• The script will setup the rest of the settings as described in steps 9 to 12 in below instructions.

Fallout: London launched recently to much acclaim following a long development period. 

In development since 2019, this huge overhaul mod introduces a new location (London, if that wasn’t obvious), a new story, fully voiced characters (including Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3), and 200 different quests.

While Fallout: London (or FOLON if you'd rather) is available for free on GOG, you do need Fallout 4 including all the DLCs to run this new version. You can get everything you’ll need by either installing the Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition or by buying and downloading everything in the list here below:

• Fallout 4
• Automatron
• Far Harbor
• Nuka World
• Wasteland Workshop
• Contraptions Workshop
• Vault-Tec Workshop

Installing Fallout London on Steam Deck

Now, installing Fallout: London on Steam Deck is not as easy as just tapping a button, and calling it a day. Well – for the sake of fairness: when using the GOG version of Fallout 4 GOTY, it kind of is. But then again, you’d have to play FOLON as a non-Steam game and lose benefits such as pre-compiled shader caches and achievements. In either case, our script supports both versions and will ask you at the beginning.

Since this game is technically a mod, you’ll need to first install the original Fallout 4 game including all DLCs, then downgrade the version to the pre-Next Gen state (Version 1.10.163) , install GOG, download Fallout: London, move every file to the correct location, change some permissions, optimise game settings, and much much more. Phew.

On a Windows PC, you can easily do this by using the dev team’s own downgrader. But there are still many steps that follow (also, I don’t know how I feel about providing my Steam login credentials to a random tool). On Steam Deck, the process is much more involved.

This is why, over the last few days, together with krupar101 (who did most of the work), we've built an automated installer for Fallout: London (with additional help from Timo Schmidt from Deckverse, and the EmuDeck team).

While you still need to obviously mind the gap and take some steps on your own, our tool will make things much easier.

For more detailed instructions or troubleshooting during installation, check out this guide — it should help you resolve any issues.:

Ok, so here is how you can install Fallout: London on Steam Deck:

1. On your Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Open up Konsole and paste or type in the following snippet and hit enter: curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/overkillwtf/folon-steamdeck-installer/main/fallout.sh && chmod +x fallout.sh && ./fallout.sh. The script will ask, which version of the game you own – if it's from Steam or GOG. Pick the corresponding one. When asked if you want to update or install, press Install.
3. During the process that follows, SteamCMD (a tool created by Valve) will ask for your login information. We DO NOT store your login info anywhere, you’re providing these details to Steam not us. Also, very important: keep an eye on Konsole. If you use Steam Guard, you’ll need to provide your temporary code later during the process. Again, we DO NOT store your details. (If you want to verify what our script does, feel free to do so on the GitHub repository.)
4. Next, the script will downgrade the Steam version of Fallout 4 (the GOG version does not need to be downgraded so the step is skipped). This process is the one that takes a long time. It might look like nothing is happening, but it is indeed downloading all the files… very… slowly. The longest I’ve seen this run is one hour. There won't be a true progress bar that updates while it's downloading a file. Just wait, and don’t do anything besides keeping your Steam Deck connected to a power outlet and occasionally moving the mouse to prevent the Deck from falling 'asleep'.
5. After it is done downgrading, the installer will add and start the Heroic Launcher app. When it is done, go to Log In (or Manage Accounts if Heroic was installed previously) and log into your GOG account.
6. Next, you need to go to your GOG library in Heroic, look for the copy of Fallout: London that you've added to your account, and install the game without changing any of the settings chosen by default. You can, however, pick the SD card by changing the path (you can find the SD card in the bottom left of the sidebar — you'll likely need to go this route if you have a 64GB Steam Deck).
7. When the download is done, close Heroic Launcher (don't start FOLON). The script will now proceed.
8. During the next step, the Fallout: London installer will open up. Here you need to first click on Install, then in the new window, you must choose the H: Drive on the left side. Next, click Install Here again.
9. As soon as it is done installing, close the window. You can recognize that it's done when the window shows two buttons: Update and Play.
10. Then, the script will apply an .ini from @krupar101, and clean up some more settings. It will also prompt you to download Buffout 4 (you need a Nexus-account for this). Drag and drop the downloaded .zip file with the 'Buffout 4' mod onto Konsole to install it. After dragging it, make sure to click once on the Konsole window, then press Enter on your keyboard. (If you have no keyboard connected, click the Steam Button and the X button at the same time to open the software keyboard.) (Not needed anymore, the latest version of Fallout London ships with Buffout 4.
11. The script will check if Steam's auto-update for Fallout 4 is disabled. You can follow the steps to disable auto updates. If you ever want to re-enable them again use this command: If Fallout 4 is installed on SSD use sudo chattr -i "$HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/appmanifest_377160.acf". If Fallout 4 is installed on microSD card use sudo chattr -i "/run/media/mmcblk0p1/steamapps/appmanifest_377160.acf".
12. ...and that was it. The installer will tell you to now close the Konsole terminal. You can boot back into game mode. To start the game, simply launch Fallout 4 (not Fallout: London) from Steam if run the Steam version of Fallout 4. For the GOG version, open up Heroic Launcher first, then Fallout 4 (not Fallout: London). But in either case, before we launch the game, change the compatibility mode (Cog Icon > Preferences > Compatibility) to Proton Experimental. (And for good measure, reboot your Steam Deck once.)

Now, this version of the script is still considered a beta.

We’ll spend the next few days fixing any bugs and ironing things out further.

If you have any feedback, feel free to create an issue on the Github page or drop a comment down below. But for now... mind the gap!