Fallout: New California mod lands on GOG as a standalone release

Fallout: New California, the massive fan-made mod for Fallout: New Vegas, is now available directly through GOG — making it easier than ever to jump in without hunting down a Nexus Mods or ModDB link.

Developed by Radian-Helix Media and originally released in 2018, New California is a DLC-sized prequel set in 2260, roughly two decades before New Vegas' events. You play as an orphaned kid from Vault 18 whose choice on the last night of the Vault Ball season sends their life — and the New California Republic's future — in a new direction. The mod packs in a who's-who of classic Fallout factions: the NCR under President Wendell Peterson, the Bishop Family mobsters from New Reno, Shi Clans, Enclave soldiers in power armor, Super Mutants, and raiders. To grab it on GOG you'll also need the New Vegas Ultimate Edition from the same store; Nexus Mods and ModDB remain options if you'd rather go that route.

New California earned strong praise on release. Writing for Rock Paper Shotgun in 2019, Dominic Tarason called it "more proper, story-driven Fallout filled with significant character choices" — a well-paced 10-hour run with high replayability, and a must-play for fans who weren't feeling Fallout 76's online-focused West Virginia setting at the time. The mod stands as one of the most ambitious New Vegas overhauls ever completed, essentially functioning as a standalone Fallout game built on the New Vegas engine.

With the GOG release lowering the barrier to entry, there's never been a simpler moment to finally tick this one off the backlog.