[GeForce NOW only] [Tutorial] Loading Mods in Geforce Now (2022)

[2333]

Below is an unofficial tutorial on loading Mods in GeForce Now.

Please note that the tutorial only applies to the current version as of writing (Airports DLC). I can't gurantee you that this method of sideloading mods in GeForce Now is 100% workable.

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A few points to bear in mind first:

• You may need up to 20 minutes to launch the game (and it depends on your mod file size). (i.e. Free tiers aren't that welcome, especially it means only 60 minutes play time)
• You should use the Steam version of the game (i.e. doesn't apply to Epic Players)
• You won't lose your in-Geforce-Now saves using this method.
• Don't stay away from computer for too long (i.e. please move cursor within the GeForce Now client every few minutes) or else GeForce Now may consider you idle and boot you out of the game.

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Steps to load mods:

1. Go to GeForce Now and Launch the Game
   
   
2. Wait for the game to be downloaded. Don't launch the game.
   If you are seeing the "preparing Cities Skylines" dialogue, please close that dialogue. The full client will be available for you.
   
   
3. After the whole game is downloaded and updated, uninstall the game.
   
   
4. Reinstall using the default settings. You will need to wait. The application may be irresponsive at first, but that is intended.
   
   
5. Wait for the Game content to be downloaded. No worries, workshop content will be downloaded later
   
   
6. When the Game content is downloaded and workshop content is downloading, stop the download when you are loading remaining mods:
   
   
7. Launch the game client in the state (i.e. cities.exe)
   
   
8. Steam will download the remaining mods for you. You will just need to wait for your mods collection to be fully downloaded
   
   
   .
   

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Some easy troubleshooting:

1. Q: I don't know why steam said that I don't own the game?
   A: Because you have not launched the game within a timeframe (i.e. haven't launched cities.exe within 300 seconds, or less). To fix that, you must have launched the game client (in this case, the thing below)
   
   

Feel free to ask me any questions if you have em'.
I hope everyone who have a potato computer and could not afford a 900 dollar RTX card or Ryzen Threadripper can still play this game.

 

[2333]

For a side note:
Do not use the "Resume" button as it may break the game. Just use the "Play" button, as your mods may include the Loading Screen Mod (Airports DLC fix, etc.) or other mods that interfere with the game loading mechanism or crash the game in second load (see the tutorial to modding for the information).

 

[hfel]

Does this still work for you? When I tried to reinstall the game, Steam returned the error “Missing file privileges”.

I used to be able to load mods by unsubbing all mods, logging out and back into Steam in GFN and then resubbing from GFN, but now it always leads GFN to crashing in the middle of the mod content download.

Honestly, I'm really disappointed in Colossal Order/Paradox here. CS is practically unplayable without certain gameplay mods and Paradox's grand strategy titles have no issues with mods on GFN; GFN players are just being shafted here with no explanation whatsoever.

 

[Naglizz]

Outdated. Here's what works for me instead:
1. When booted into paradox launcher, close it.
2. Log out of steam and log back in.
3. Go to workshop, unsubscribe from any asset/mod and resubscribe again.
This triggers the downloading of all assets.
4. Play
4,5. Pray GeForce/Steam gods they add a support to using workshop items without having to do this every time you launch a game.
(Repeat every time you play)

 

[akeela84]

Outdated. Here's what works for me instead:
1. When booted into paradox launcher, close it.
2. Log out of steam and log back in.
3. Go to workshop, unsubscribe from any asset/mod and resubscribe again.
This triggers the downloading of all assets.
4. Play
4,5. Pray GeForce/Steam gods they add a support to using workshop items without having to do this every time you launch a game.
(Repeat every time you play)

This sounds like a very cumbersome process.

 

[g_mauro_]

On Naglizz's comment about adding official support for mods, here's some info you may find interesting:

Back in early 2022 I opened a support ticket with them because the vanilla game was crashing randomly, and after they helped I got a chance to ask about official support for mods. They said they didn't want to allow it because all the "fiddling" required to have a robust working game with mods would degrade the online gaming experience... so I said ok fine... However, during the following month or so, the mods started downloading every time I opened the game on Geforce Now. It was like they allowed me to try...? I remember I could use them and I found that, whenever there was any corruption issue with them, the game would stop and the Geforce session would end... so after that month the mods stopped downloading. I have no proof, but I think they used me as a tester for a bit, then proved their point, and took out the mods again... haha

Long story short, it doesn't look like they are going to officially support them anytime soon, and they will potentially try to remove all these "methods" to get them so that the gaming experience is "preserved"... whatever that means.

If only they allowed the 5-10 typical quality-of-life mods everyone needs that are regularly maintained, I think it would be good enough... but it's their call.