ZFE v0.27.0

ZFE v0.27.0

ZFE is an independently written compatibility extender and runtime for Fallout 76 Scaleform mods on Steam and PC Game Pass. It restores compatibility for supported SFE mods on current game versions and provides an open API for creating new Fallout 76 UI mods and services without copying SFE or F4SE implementation.

Features

• Restores compatibility for supported SFE mods.
• Provides an open API for new Fallout 76 UI mods and services.
• Supports local storage, allow-listed imports, in-process events, structured logging, user-approved remote data, native input, and independent online chat integrations.
• Provides a documented chat.v1 protocol for independent chat UIs and relay services.
• Handles secure endpoint policy, protected authentication token storage, reconnection support, native hotkeys and text input, request validation, and communication between UI mods and relays.
• Supports settings storage, UI-mod events, imports, diagnostics, remote data, and documented legacy compatibility features.

API areas

• Storage: Save local settings and UI state owned by your mod.
• Imports: Read supported player-generated export files.
• Events: Communicate between UI mods inside the same game process.
• Logging: Write structured troubleshooting messages to zfe.log.
• Remote Data: Read user-approved HTTPS resources through ZFE’s native cache.
• Chat: Create independent chat UIs and relay services using the chat.v1 contract.
• Legacy Compatibility: Support established SFE bridge calls where documented.

New mods should check ZFE’s reported capabilities before using an API. The APIs remain experimental and may evolve as more mod authors use them.

Installation

1. Extract dxgi.dll beside the supported Fallout 76 executable.
2. For Steam, place dxgi.dll beside Fallout76.exe in the Fallout 76 Steam folder.
3. For PC Game Pass or the Xbox app, place dxgi.dll beside Project76_GamePass.exe in the Fallout 76 Content folder.
4. If you already use SFE, replace only its old dxgi.dll. Keep your existing mod configuration files.
5. Do not install SFE and ZFE together.
6. For ReShade, rename ReShade’s dxgi.dll to d3d11.dll, then install ZFE as dxgi.dll. Repeat this after updating ReShade.

To uninstall ZFE, delete dxgi.dll.

Requirements

Fallout 76 on Steam or PC Game Pass / Xbox app, running a game version supported by the installed ZFE release.

Compatibility

The chat API is still experimental. A complete chat experience requires a compatible UI mod, relay server, and configuration. Public production relays must use secure wss:// connections.

If a mod does not work with ZFE, post the mod name, Nexus ID, version, platform, and the relevant part of zfe.log.

FAQ

Does ZFE require one specific chat mod or server?

No. ZFE’s chat bridge and protocol are relay agnostic. Modders can create different chat UIs, communities, and servers without being tied to one implementation.

Can I write my own chat server?

Yes. You may use any language or server framework as long as it implements the documented protocol and security requirements.

Does ZFE provide a universal public chat server?

No. ZFE provides the native bridge and an open protocol. Individual chat projects and communities provide their own UI, relay, moderation, and hosting.

Can ZFE be used for mods other than chat?

Yes. Chat is only one API area. ZFE can also support settings storage, UI-mod events, imports, diagnostics, remote data, legacy compatibility, and other documented UI-focused features.

Is this mod allowed?

Please refer to Bethesda’s article about Fallout 76 mods:

Bethesda Support, Fallout 76 Mods

ZFE is intended for UI mod compatibility and documented UI mod APIs. It does not provide gameplay cheats, gameplay automation, item manipulation, or anti-cheat bypasses.

Fallout 76 is an online game, so any third-party DLL is used at your own risk.