Will NPC models ever be Moddable ?

[Zordiark Darkeater]

It seems like almost everything is moddable in game EXCEPT the NPC models for some reason.
And honestly its annoying because the Human models are the Number 1 thing i want to change in this game like seriously...The Horrible human Models just Murders my immersion in this game.

Anyone knows anything about this ? Will it ever happen ? or we can forget about it for whatever reason ?

[Skeeter]

the lighting on the skin is bad and imo could do with some attention too. If it was modable id like to think modders could fix em up nice,

[Ergoswot]

It seems like almost everything is moddable in game EXCEPT the NPC models for some reason.
And honestly its annoying because the Human models are the Number 1 thing i want to change in this game like seriously...The Horrible human Models just Murders my immersion in this game.

Anyone knows anything about this ? Will it ever happen ? or we can forget about it for whatever reason ?

I am very curious why the Devs ignore this topic. It's one of the number one things people want to mod.

[Privata]

The models are not ideal, that is for sure
I would argue however that the rigging might be the biggest issue with them right now, but, given the nature of the game its not going to be a priority

[linolafett]

I am very curious why the Devs ignore this topic. It's one of the number one things people want to mod.

We are not ignoring. We have repeatedly pointed out that we can not make the pipeline open to modders, as it relies on legacy closed source tools.

We could open the hard surface pipeline to modders as we switched from 3dsmax to blender.
This switch is not realistically possible for the character pipeline.

[Flippi]

We are not ignoring. We have repeatedly pointed out that we can not make the pipeline open to modders, as it relies on legacy closed source tools.

Last time I read about this topic here, there were talks about changing the NPC pipeline. Unless I misinterpreted something back then. Is this still planned, or is that something that won't happen in X4 (or even X5)?

[Skeeter]

what part of the pipeline is it that needs closed tools per say. As maybe ppl can mod around them limits, i mean can it be made easier for ppl to simply edit the lighting and textures on character models, or swap the model polys or just moving em around to fix things that might be iffy currently on some models. Im just wondering what parts are hard cos of closed tools and which parts however difficult, could be maybe modded.

Im sure i saw a guide on character modding but think it was a complex method.

Personally just seeing a modder fix the materials on characters so the harsh environment lighting doesn't go so hard on the skin of characters as its unrealistic to how light interacts wtih skin, how no one at ego notices or fixes this i have no idea.

[linolafett]

@Flippi: Nothing planned for X4. Of course in the long term planning we want to switch to a Blender only pipeline as well.
@Skeeter: Materials/shaders are independent of the pipeline, modders have full access to those already.

[Flippi]

@Flippi: Nothing planned for X4. Of course in the long term planning we want to switch to a Blender only pipeline as well.

Thanks for the info. A bit dissappointing that X4 won't see NPC modding due to that, but at least we have clear confirmation now.

[Rothank]

We've had this confirmed for months now, devs were never hiding the fact character models are made with closed source software

[Flippi]

We've had this confirmed for months now, devs were never hiding the fact character models are made with closed source software

I am aware of this fact (and I think quite a few other posters here too). I was there one or two years ago, when an older thread popped up and Egosoft confirmed officially of their use of EMotionFX. Back then the devs stated that they wanted to change the pipeline, but they never specified when that would happen. Hence the questions and this new thread by people.

We now have official confirmation that NPC modding won't come to X4 at all. So that's quite a bit different from older statements the devs have written here in this forum. Older dev statements never ruled out a change in the character pipeline. At least the ones that I read on this topic a year ago or so.

[user1679]

We've had this confirmed for months now, devs were never hiding the fact character models are made with closed source software

I am aware of this fact (and I think quite a few other posters here too). I was there one or two years ago, when an older thread popped up and Egosoft confirmed officially of their use of EMotionFX. Back then the devs stated that they wanted to change the pipeline, but they never specified when that would happen. Hence the questions and this new thread by people.

We now have official confirmation that NPC modding won't come to X4 at all. So that's quite a bit different from older statements the devs have written here in this forum. Older dev statements never ruled out a change in the character pipeline. At least the ones that I read on this topic a year ago or so.

If it's true they use EmotionFX, would it be possible to create a character in an open source engine then export it and use it in X4? I'm not a modeler so I'm just posting suggestions. According to O3DE, you can use characters created in Blender in combination with the EmotionFX plugin to create animations.


Open 3D Engine (O3DE)
Add EmotionFX to O3DE to enable Animation Editor

[Flippi]

If it's true they use EmotionFX, would it be possible to create a character in an open source engine then export it and use it in X4? I'm not a modeler so I'm just posting suggestions. According to O3DE, you can use characters created in Blender in combination with the EmotionFX plugin to create animations.

I'm not fully sure, but I would say no. I think I remember someone trying this months ago without success. But I can't remember any details. The problem isn't just the use of EMotionFX, it's that Egosoft's version is horrendously outdated. By how much is hard to tell. But considering that Egosoft used the same tool for X Rebirth, I'd say it's very outdated. Of course, Egosoft devs can give you a more accurate answer than me. So maybe linolafett or any of the other devs will see this and reply.

The company that made EMotionFX was bought up by Amazaon years ago, and then integrated their tool into the Lumberyard engine. Then the engine turned into O3DE in 2021. So the standalone version that was sold before is effectively abandonware and most likely not compatible with the much newer version of O3DE. Of course, people can try and see if that is true or not. But there are very high chances that it's not going to work.

[Zordiark Darkeater]

@Flippi: Nothing planned for X4. Of course in the long term planning we want to switch to a Blender only pipeline as well.
@Skeeter: Materials/shaders are independent of the pipeline, modders have full access to those already.

Will you guys Update the humans a little bit tough ?

Just a bit more/better Hair and Skin Texture and Eyes that are more well....alive lol

The Aliens look cool they are fine.

Until then, does anyone know if there is a Mod that Puts Helms on Every human NPC ? Im not joking i need it if it exist lol.

[Ketsa]

The reason is political.
Plain and simple.

[linolafett]

The reason is political.
Plain and simple.

Please do not derail the thread.
This is absolutely not true.


Regarding the EMotion Studio version, it is from around 2010-2011.
Cant really check right now to give a more precise version number.

[Caldari Navy]

What is this ????
Looks like out of x4 model
Someone have some progress although check tablet in hands hmmm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_W6ENPmuT ... VudA%3D%3D

Hmm got feeling its not in x4 game its exported, and played whith in external softwares

[linolafett]

What is this ????
Looks like out of x4 model
Someone have some progress although check tablet in hands hmmm

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_W6ENPmuT ... VudA%3D%3D

Hmm got feeling its not in x4 game its exported, and played whith in external softwares

This video was not made in game, its using exported assets in a different software.

[Casishur]

i guess if you want to update all character assets, you would probably have to start from 0 with all models, because the current models are not accepted by the current engine.

In fact, for the sake of effort, I would not change the programme and use it until it no longer works.

But you could also experiment with current software in a similar environment (I think that this step is currently being considered but is not yet ready).
Possibly only in X5.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Socratatus]

This is disappointing news. Ships yes, but NPC people no? I don't get it.

Do you guys realise how much this would jump-start X4 and it has helped MANY games to be able to Mod NPCs faces, clothing, etc? This game would go leaps and bounds and bring so many new people the EASY way. Also your company would not be bound by rules if free modders made them.


So we can't Mod it and have to hope you guys will do something? but you guys are a small team, you keep telling us, so what's the chances of that?

So depressing.

Maybe work on a huge DLC uniforms/costume pack and charge for that? That way we get more skins and you get some remuneration/incentive to make it?