Modding HalfLife Alyx

Struggling to mod our ARMGDDN repack of Halflife Alyx from ARMGDDN Browser or Rookies PCVR?
Don't worry, Its VERY easy to mod !


Follow these steps exactly:

  1. Go to the workshop section on steam and pick a mod. A good one to try if you don't know what you want to try is Gunman Contracts: Chapter 1. We will be using this one as an example.
  2. We are going to check ARMGDDN (find them in the _AlyxMods folder of any PCVR mirror) or Rookies PCVR for the mod... if the mod you want is not there you can Request it from ARMGDDN.
  3. Once you find the mod you want just download it like normal and unzip it.
  4. Right click on the download 7zip and choose 7z > Extract to 2600534901_gunman_contracts_chapter_1_the_extraction. You want to unzip the mod folder while making sure the naming structure is modIDnumber_mod_name and inside the folder is a vpk file with the modIDnumber as it's name only. For example modidnumber_mod_name would be 2600534901_gunman_contracts_chapter_1_the_extraction in this case.

NOTE: The folder name has to match exactly or it will NOT show up in your addons window when you go to start the mod even if it allows you to enable it in addons you wont be able to start the mod! Same issue if you have extra folders.

  1. You can delete the file that ISNT a .VPK. This will be a text file.
  2. Go to your Halflife Alyx directory and navigate to Half-Life Alyx\game\bin\win64\steam_settings . Create a Mods folder inside the steam_settings folder.

If the Mods folder doesnt exist JUST CREATE IT

  1. Copy the 2600534901_gunman_contracts_chapter_1_the_extraction folder (with the VPK inside) to the newly created mods folder. It should look like this
  2. Start the game and go to the addons tab and enable it. Enable counterintuitively looks like —- instead of like -|- so a minus instead of a plus. Do not turn on any other addons if you have any, one at a time unless its something like return to rapture chapter 2 which has 18 addons on the collection you need to enable anything having to do with it for it to work.
  3. Next go to Start New Game > Addon Maps > and choose the Gunman Contracts - Chapter 1 and start it up.

That's it


Arguments

Here are the arguments I use for Alyx if anyone is interested

-Steam -VR -nowindow -novid -console -vconsole +vr_fidelity_level_auto 0 +vr_fidelity_level 3 +vr_render_scale 1.0 +volume_fog_disable 1

Warning

-nowindow will remove the spectator screen (on your PC) so don't use this one if you have someone watching you play. Do not use this if you intend to cheat, it will make it much harder.

Note

The console commands (-vconsole and -console) are for cheating (if used alone, but If used with the two commands I used above it's for setting the resolution to match your headset). Suggest you beat the game first before using console commands to cheat. Cheating ruins the gloriousness that is Alyx. Also as I stated above don't use -nowindow if you plan on cheating because you will need to see Alyx on the PC screen to enter commands

Note

Sometimes ARMGDDN or Vrp wont name the zips correctly. You will have to figure it out yourself. It's steamworkshopmodnumber_name_of mod. If the folder (mods/foldername) isn't named correctly it will not show up under custom games. We try our best but many times we are doing requests and arent able to test every mod before it goes up

console commands

more info about launch parameters, these are especially useful if your struggling to run alyx


In Conclusion

Modding Alyx is a bit of a pain in the ass and is best done after finishing the regular game. But modding Alyx is also a great way to enjoy this great game for hours or days more after beating it!

Created by DMP with love, for ARMGDDN Games and VR Pirates

Edit
Pub: 30 Nov 2023 04:00 UTC
Edit: 01 Dec 2023 01:17 UTC
Views: 3064