Bethesda Softworks has released a new update for Fallout 4 that resolves a prominent issue affecting players on portable hardware: bringing up the virtual keyboard on a Steam Deck device no longer crashes the game.
Quick Facts
- Update Date: August 18, 2026
- Platforms Affected: Steam Deck / SteamOS (alongside PC via Steam)
- Key Fix: Eliminated the crash caused by opening the on-screen virtual keyboard
- Modding Change: BA2 archive limit increased from 256 to 1024
What Changed in the August 18 Patch
For years, Steam Deck and SteamOS users navigating Fallout 4 faced an immediate application crash whenever text input summoned the system's on-screen keyboard. The August 18, 2026 patch notes officially confirm a fix for this top crash, removing a major hurdle for players using Valve's handheld.
Beyond the virtual keyboard fix, the update addresses several other stability concerns:
- Fixed a top crash caused by a streaming audio error.
- Fixed a Microsoft Store crash occurring when players entered the Creations menus after resuming internet connectivity.
- Increased the BA2 archive limit from 256 to 1024 to better accommodate larger collections of mods.
- Added localized strings fixes for UI and platform terminology.
Creation Kit and Modding Adjustments
The patch also introduces significant changes for creators utilizing the Creation Kit. Archives are now supported on PlayStation, with new file types (.nif, .dds, .bink, .cdx, .csg, .wav, and .fuz with embedded .wav) permitted for PlayStation Creations. Additionally, creations up to 2 GB in size can now be uploaded for Xbox, and the "Search and Replace" feature has been updated to align with Starfield.
Further bug fixes ensure that archiving a plugin using pre-existing assets in a new form no longer duplicates those assets, and material or heightmap terrain edits now cause grass to generate properly.