Installing Custom Levels (RF1)

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Tutorial: Installing Custom Levels (RF1) Prepared by Goober.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through installing custom levels/maps for Red Faction 1. The RED level editor is very powerful, and thousands of levels have been made since the game's release, encompassing every gameplay style you can think of.

NOTE: We've tried to standardize the distribution format of maps/levels on FactionFiles.com (which is also the source for in-game map downloads). These steps may not work for you if you obtained the files from another source.

If you're attempting to install any other type of mod, you should not follow this guide. Please reference one of our other guides instead:

• Installing Conversion Mods (RF1)
• Installing Clientside Mods (RF1)

If you run into issues or have questions, it's best to join the Red Faction Community Discord for some assistance.

Multiplayer Levels

IMPORTANT: If you haven't already installed the de facto standard patch Dash Faction, you should do that before proceeding. Please reference the Dash Faction Installation Guide for instructions.

Three primary methods exist for installing multiplayer levels: server join, direct query, and manual install. Each method has its purpose, and the steps for each are explained below.

Method 1: Join a server running the level

1. If you join a server that's running a custom multiplayer level that you haven't installed (or you're already playing in a server and it switches to such a map), you'll be kicked from the game and given a prompt to download and install the level if it's available on the autodownload server (FactionFiles.com).
2. Click "Download" to download the level, then notice the progress bar at the bottom of the screen.
3. Once the progress bar completes, the level is automatically installed. You can now rejoin the server.

Method 2: Direct query

NOTE: For this method, you must know the exact filename of the level you're trying to download.

1. Open the game, then open the developer console (~ key)
2. Enter the download_level FILENAME command and hit enter, then notice the progress bar at the bottom of the screen. Additional information on this and other commands is available on the Console Command Reference page.
3. Once the progress bar completes, the level is automatically installed.
4. If the level isn't showing up in the "Create Server" interface after this, simply restart your game. It should show up then.

Method 3: Manual install

1. Visit FactionFiles.com to download the multiplayer levels(s) you want to install.
2. Extract all .vpp files in the downloaded archive to your "...\user_maps\multi" directory. (Normally this will be C:\Steam\steamapps\common\red faction\user_maps\multi for Steam users, and C:\games\RedFaction\user_maps\multi for non-Steam users)
3. If the game was already open when you extracted the files, you will have to restart it to load the newly installed level(s).

Single Player Levels

• Coming soon...