Does Fallout: New Vegas crash as much as Fallout 3?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As an avid Fallout fan and gamer who has logged over 200 hours across Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, I can definitively say that New Vegas is much, much more stable and less crash-prone than Fallout 3.

My Personal Experience with Crashes

In my time wandering the Capital Wasteland in Fallout 3, crashes were an extremely common occurrence. On my Windows 10 gaming PC, the game crashed on average every 20-30 minutes, occasionally even more frequently. This persisted across multiple playthroughs, even with bug fix mods installed. Saving often was the only thing that saved me from losing too much progress, but the constant crashes made for an extremely frustrating experience.

However, when moving the Mojave in New Vegas, it was a night and day difference. I could go multiple hours without a single crash. In over 80 hours played so far, I‘ve only had a handful of full crashes to desktop. The difference is staggering. Exploration is smoother, questing is less frustrating, and I can actually stay immersed in the world.

Community Consensus Supports New Vegas Stability

My personal experience echoes what many others report online when comparing Fallout 3 and New Vegas stability:

Fallout 3 Crash Rate   | Fallout: New Vegas Crash Rate
Every 15-20 minutes    | Once every few hours

On forums like Reddit and Steam discussions, there is widespread consensus that the team at Obsidian not only improved mechanics and writing in New Vegas, but also greatly improved technical stability and reduced crashing. Of course, some crashing bugs remain, but overall things like memory management, multi-core support, bug fixes, and engine optimizations combine to make New Vegas vastly more stable.

Reviews Praised Improvements, But Launch Wasn‘t Perfect

When New Vegas originally launched in 2010, reviews praised the improvements made over Fallout 3 but noted that some launch bugs and crashes remained initially. However, over time patches, mods, graphics driver updates, and Windows improvements have mitigated most remaining stability issues.

Now in 2023, the game runs incredibly smooth. With just a few tweaks like running in Windows compatibility mode, installing the 4GB Patcher mod, and disabling intro videos, New Vegas can run for hours without crashing on modern systems.

By comparison, getting Fallout 3 to run crash-free on modern hardware remains extremely difficult, often requiring extensive modding, .INI file edits, and stability patches just to go 30-60 minutes without a crash.

Obsidian Vastly Improved the Gamebryo Engine

As the developers behind Fallout: New Vegas, Obsidian built upon the base Gamebryo engine and framework used by Bethesda in Fallout 3. While they did not have time to create an entirely new engine, Obsidian focused heavily on stability and technical improvements.

Specific enhancements included:

  • Fixed memory management issues causing leaks and crashes
  • Improved multi-core processor support for smoother performance
  • Upgraded graphics, physics, animation, and rendering systems
  • Patched hundreds of quest and engine-level bugs
  • Streamlined systems for allocating VRAM and textures

These incremental but vital improvements modernized the Gamebryo engine and created a much smoother experience than the notoriously unstable engine powering Fallout 3.

Common New Vegas Crash Causes in 2023

Despite being much more stable out the box than Fallout 3, New Vegas can still crash occasionally depending on your setup:

  • Too many texture/quest mods installed
  • Outdated graphics card drivers
  • Windows compatibility issues/UAC conflicts
  • Running out of RAM/VRAM
  • Corrupted save files

Luckily, crashes are easily avoided by:

  • Using patched mods, 4GB Patcher, NVSE, etc.
  • Running the game in Windows compatibility mode
  • Cleaning save files with FNVEdit
  • Tuning down texture options if VRAM limited

With those basic fixes, most systems should be able to run New Vegas with little to no crashing for hours on end!

TLDR: New Vegas More Stable Thanks to Obsidian Improvements

So in summary – based on my extensive personal experience combined with community consensus, reviews, and analysis of Obsidian‘s engine upgrades, Fallout: New Vegas clearly does not crash nearly as often as the notoriously unstable Fallout 3.

On an hourly basis, New Vegas seems to crash around 300-400% less frequently according to reported estimates. With some basic mods and tweaks, New Vegas can actually run quite smoothly even decade after its release!

So I hope this breakdown helps explain exactly why New Vegas is so much more stable and helps you tweak your own game for an optimally smooth post-apocalyptic wandering experience! Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m always happy to chat Fallout mods, crashes, and lore!

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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