Install Abiotic Factor mods on your dedicated server: upload simple PAK mods straight to the Paks folder, or install the UE4SS mod loader from Mod Manager and add UE4SS script mods to its Mods folder.
Modding your Abiotic Factor server is one of the best ways to customise your gameplay and keep your players engaged. The game takes two kinds of mods: simple .pak mods and advanced UE4SS script-based mods. This guide shows how to tell them apart, how to install each one correctly and what to check before you upload anything, with real examples from Nexus Mods.
Abiotic Factor has no official mod support yet. Deep Field Games has announced official mod.io support for a future update, but until it lands every mod is an unofficial download, mostly from Nexus Mods, that you copy into the game folders yourself.
On this page
Abiotic Factor mods: important notes before installing
- Some Abiotic Factor mods are server-side only, others are client-side only, and others need installing on both the server and players' PCs. Always read the mod description carefully.
- Always check the mod is compatible with the version of the game you are running.
- Some mods are incompatible with each other. Read all compatibility notes.
- UE4SS-based mods also require you to install UE4SS on your own computer. You can download it from https://www.nexusmods.com/abioticfactor/mods/35 and follow the installation instructions in its description.
- Mods can break after game updates or corrupt saves/profiles. Always keep backups: press Backup Server before you start.
- PAK mod: after unzipping you see
.pak,.utocand.ucasfiles. They go inAbioticFactor/Content/Paks/on the server. - UE4SS mod: after unzipping you see a folder with a
Scriptsfolder inside. It goes inAbioticFactor/Binaries/Win64/ue4ss/Mods/on the server.
How to install PAK mods
PAK mods are the simplest type of Abiotic Factor mod. They do not need a mod loader and can be uploaded directly to the server. In this example we use the Nexus mod Better Backpacks (a PAK mod): https://www.nexusmods.com/abioticfactor/mods/62
- PAK mods do not use UE4SS. You only upload the
.pak/.utoc/.ucasfiles. - Some PAK mods are server-only, others client-only or both. Confirm this in the mod description.
- Always verify version compatibility before installing.
- Download the mod to your PC and unzip it.
- Press STOP to stop your server.
- Open the File Manager and go to
AbioticFactor/Content/Paks/. - Click Upload › Select Files and upload the
.pak/.utoc/.ucasfiles exactly as shown below. Keep the file names as they are.
- Press START to start your server.
Leave the game's own files in this folder alone (pakchunk0-WindowsServer and global). Only add or remove your mod files.
How to install UE4SS mods
Some Abiotic Factor mods need the UE4SS mod loader to work. These mods usually include a Scripts folder and often change more advanced gameplay systems. In this example we use the Nexus mod Less Stamina Throwing: https://www.nexusmods.com/abioticfactor/mods/145
- Read the mod page to confirm if the mod must be installed server-side, client-side or both.
- Always verify that the mod is compatible with your current game version.
- Be sure you upload the correct folder. Inside the mod folder you must see the Scripts directory.
- UE4SS-based mods also require you to install UE4SS on your own computer: https://www.nexusmods.com/abioticfactor/mods/35
- Download the mod and unzip it on your PC.
- Press STOP to stop your server.
- Open Mod Manager and install UE4SS. You only need to do this once.
- Go to File Manager and open
AbioticFactor/Binaries/Win64/ue4ss/Mods/. - Click Upload › Select Folder and upload the mod folder you unzipped (the folder that contains the
Scriptsfolder).
- Press START to start your server.
UE4SS mod not loading? UE4SS only runs mods that are switched on. Make sure the mod folder contains an empty file called enabled.txt, or add a line such as ThrowStaminaReduction : 1 to mods.txt in the same Mods folder, using your mod's folder name.
Some UE4SS mods are Blueprint mods that tell you to use a LogicMods folder. Upload those files to AbioticFactor/Content/Paks/LogicMods/.
Tips and warnings
- Always keep backups of your world and player profiles before installing mods.
- If a mod stops working after an update, remove it until the developer releases a fix.
- Do not upload multiple mods at once. Install one at a time to avoid conflicts.
- Be sure players install required client-side mods, otherwise they may crash or desync.
Always follow each mod's own instructions and check whether it is client-side, server-side or both.
Questions and troubleshooting
Does Abiotic Factor have official mod support?
Not yet. Official Abiotic Factor mod support through mod.io, with an in-game mod browser, has been announced for a future update without a release date. Until then mods are unofficial files, mainly from Nexus Mods, that you install by hand as shown in this guide.
How do I install UE4SS for Abiotic Factor on my server?
Press STOP, open Mod Manager in the game panel and install UE4SS. Then upload UE4SS mods to AbioticFactor/Binaries/Win64/ue4ss/Mods/ and start the server. Players who use UE4SS mods also install UE4SS on their own PC.
A mod stopped working after a game update. What do I do?
Remove the mod from the server until its developer releases a fix. Press STOP, delete the mod's files or folder in File Manager and press START. The Log Viewer often shows which mod failed.
Do my friends need the same mods?
It depends on the mod. Server-side mods work for everyone without installing anything. Client-side or "both" mods must be installed by every player, in the same version as the server, or they may crash or desync. The mod page tells you which kind it is.
Related guides
Stuck with a mod? Open a support ticket and our team will help.
