The Grand Theft Auto series of games for many gamers has become, if not the first in the collection, then one of those. The novelty from Rockstar Games, namely "GTA 5", only confirmed the success of the franchise, since it almost instantly gained immense popularity among fans. Both single player campaign and online mode are still in demand. You can judge this by relying on the popularity of content on various media platforms. However, even a vast world can be bored. Sooner or later, the same landscape, similar models of transport and weapons cause a feeling of satiety. In this case, you can solve the problem by adding several modifications. So, how to install mods for GTA 5, are there any pitfalls in such a procedure?
Classification of modifications
Before giving an answer to the question of how to install mods for GTA 5, it’s worth figuring out what mods are there for the game, what is the policy of the official developer. First of all, it is worth noting that changes in the gameplay are not only cosmetic or global. Also, the add-on can be scripted or not.
The first are third-party content, which can be configured using conventional software or a plug-in. Such mods are easy to delete, having previously erased all downloaded files. They do not make changes to the original project, that is, “vanilla”, and therefore are rarely pursued by the copyright agreement of Rockstar Games.
Non-scripted modifications must be set in place of the original files, which is fraught with critical crashes of the project at the launch stage. Therefore, it is recommended to make a kind of backup before making changes, as well as deleting the original content. Their installation is carried out by prescribing "skins", if we are talking about a cosmetic change, or by completely processing part of the original components of the game.
Rockstar Games Modifications Policy
Rockstar Games partially turns a blind eye to the abundance of mods that has appeared recently. However, the developer is not responsible for the integrity of the game client when making its own changes to the original files. Therefore, it is better to experiment with the changes on a pirated copy of GTA 5 before making changes to the license. By the way, the actually “stolen” copy of the license is also suitable for modification. However, the question of how to install mods for the GTA 5 pirate appears much more often. Licensees are less likely to risk customer integrity. However, this is easily solved using third-party plugins.
The official position of the company is such that any kind of modification is prohibited. Despite the fact that add-ons from users have always been an integral part of the franchise, some changes have given advantages to online players. In this regard, absolutely all changes came under the “knife” - both thoughtful and frankly harmless.
Install scripting mods
So, how to install GTA 5 mods based on extraneous plugins? First you need to find out what resolution the file has, and based on this, install a third-party program. When downloading, select the “Properties” item by right-clicking on the file that was in the mod’s archive. The required resolution will be indicated there: .dll; .ini .asi; .vb; .cs. Most portals distribute their own software for preinstalling add-ons with their subsequent management. However, there are several universal programs that can be used for almost every mod. These include Script Hook V.
In order to install mods on "GTA 5" through this plugin, you need to perform several simple operations. First you need to download the current version of the plugin, and then unzip it to the root directory of "vanilla". Then you need to download the modifications and send them also to the root of "GTA 5". Modifications can be turned on or off directly from the game using the predefined tools.
For versions with .ini and .lua permissions, you will additionally have to get the corresponding plugin. How to install mods for GTA 5 in this case? It is easy to do. You just need to repeat the previous operation, this time copying the files to the addins folder. You can find it in the scripts directory. In order to install the mod on zombies in GTA 5, as well as similar add-ons, it is enough to unzip all the files in the addins folder, and then activate the modification in the game.
Vehicle Modifications
Often you can come across the question of how to install a mod on a car in GTA 5. Absolutely all modifications to the transport are carried out through an additional plugin called Open IV to the Script Hook V program. Through it, you need to open the desired directory, each time different and described in the mod’s manual, then select the “edit” option. Then, replace the original file with the modified one, previously saved on the computer to avoid additional critical crashes.
Console Version
Along with the question of how to install mods for GTA 5 on a PC, owners of consoles can often face a similar problem. For the Xbox 360 version, you will also need a computer version of the client, since modifications to the original content are easier to make from a computer. You must first create an image, replace the original files, and then overwrite it using special software on a USB-drive with a version that can be played on the console.
Mod manager
Recently, a program called Mod Manager is gaining popularity, which allows for complete installation and modification management. This happens without replacing the original files, the add-ons are easy to remove, and all changes are rolled back to the previous version of the client. Users with a licensed copy of GTA 5 are recommended to use this particular option, since in this case the risk of a crash or error is reduced to zero. Otherwise, there is always the risk that the adjustments made to the “vanilla” will entail, for example, the need to reinstall, and sometimes roll back the game process.
Why is the question of how to install mods for GTA 5 relevant? The game is not the first year at the peak of its popularity and continues to hold the position of hot news. The abundance of mods creates a demand for project content, which is why they are all actively downloaded.