ModForge — Universal Game & Mod Studio

The ultimate high-performance, native mod manager, graphical enhancement studio, and crash-hunting detective for Linux, Steam Deck, and PC.

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⚡ What is ModForge?

ModForge is a next-generation game modding studio designed for players and modders who demand speed, reliability, and precision. Unlike sluggish browser-wrapped or Electron-based managers, ModForge combines a lightning-fast, zero-overhead Rust backend engine with a sleek, responsive obsidian desktop interface.

• Sub-150ms instant startup: No loading screens, no heavy runtimes.
• Non-Destructive Library Architecture: Mods are hard-linked into game directories with journaled transaction tracking. Clicking "Vanilla Mode" cleans game folders in milliseconds without losing your setup.
• Zero Telemetry & 100% Privacy: No user tracking, no forced accounts, open-source under GPL-3.0.

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🚀 Flagship Features

🎨 ReShade & vkBasalt Graphic Enhancement Studio

• Dual Graphics Pipeline: Native Vulkan post-processing via vkBasalt (Linux & Steam Deck) and DirectX overrides (dxgi.dll, d3d11.dll, d3d9.dll).
• FidelityFX Contrast Adaptive Sharpening (CAS): Restores crisp texture clarity and counteracts heavy temporal anti-aliasing (TAA) blur with zero halo artifacts.
• 6 Shipped Visual Presets:
  1. FidelityFX CAS Sharpening: Precision texture resolution boost.
  2. Cinematic Film Grade: CAS combined with filmic contrast curves and shadow depth.
  3. Vibrant Dynamic Color: Rich saturation and specular boost for open worlds.
  4. Clean Anti-Banding & SMAA: Sub-pixel smoothing eliminating sky gradient steps.
  5. Retro Arcade CRT: Phosphor bloom and scanline emulation for pixel art and classic games.
  6. Custom Shader Chain: Live embedded raw vkBasalt.conf editor with real-time reload.
• Interactive Controls: Live CAS Sharpness slider (0% to 100%) and Action Dock quick-toggles.

⚡ Smart Launch Booster & Performance Presets

Maximize frame rates and eradicate frame-time hitching with 1-click launch chips:

• DXVK Async (DXVK_ASYNC=1): Eliminates shader compilation stutters in Vulkan translation.
• RADV GPL (RADV_PERFTEST=gpl): Leverages the Graphics Pipeline Library for ultra-fast AMD shader caching.
• NVIDIA DLSS / Reflex & NVAPI (PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI=1): Activates deep learning super sampling and latency reduction in Proton.
• Fullscreen FSR Upscaling (WINE_FULLSCREEN_FSR=1): Spatial upscaling and sharpness enhancement for Steam Deck and handheld screens.
• MangoHud Telemetry (MANGOHUD=1): In-game performance, GPU/CPU telemetry, and frame-time graph.
• Feral GameMode (GAMEMODERUN=1): Automatic CPU governor and scheduling priority tuning.
• Skip Intro Videos (MODFORGE_SKIP_INTRO=1): Bypasses unskippable publisher logos and loading cinematics.

💾 Save Guard Timeline & Checkpoint Snapshot Studio

• Custom Named Checkpoints: Tag milestones with meaningful labels (e.g., before-boss, act-two, pre-modding).
• Delta Timeline Tracking: Inspect byte differences (+3.3 MB) and file counts between backups to monitor progression footprint.
• Save Bloat Warning Watcher: Proactively flags sudden save expansion (>50 MB growth or >100% size surge on files >5 MB) to prevent progression loss from runaway mod script logs or corrupted states.
• Instant Rollbacks: Restore any prior checkpoint over HTTP in 1-click.

🎵 In-Browser Audio & Soundtrack Previewer

• Asset Streaming Player: Preview music, voice lines, and SFX directly inside staged mod archives before deploying to the game.
• Format Support: Streams .mp3, .ogg, .wav, .flac, .opus, .aac, and .m4a files.
• Rich Controls: Play/pause, track timeline seeking (00:00 / 03:45), volume control, format badges, and tracklist navigation.

📱 Steam Deck Couch Mode & Remote LAN Pairing

• Gamepad Navigation: Dedicated controller UI with full support for D-pad, face buttons, triggers, and bumpers.
• Remote LAN Mobile Link: Launch ModForge with --lan or MODFORGE_LAN=1 and scan the on-screen QR code from your smartphone, tablet, or secondary PC to manage mods, tweak load orders, and launch games over your local Wi-Fi.

⚙️ Mod Config Studio & Smart Load Order Optimizer

• In-App Config Editor: Tweak .ini, .cfg, .json, .toml, and .lua configuration files directly from the UI.
• Automated .bak Backups: ModForge creates an automatic safety snapshot before saving changes.
• Smart Load Order Optimizer: Automatically sorts mods by architectural priority: Loaders ➔ Frameworks ➔ Scripts ➔ Assets ➔ Overrides.

🩺 Doctor Diagnostics & Crash Detective

• Deep Log Parsing: Automatic error parsing for REDscript, UE4SS, BepInEx, MelonLoader, and Proton crash logs.
• Missing Framework Detector: Alerts you if a mod depends on missing core libraries (e.g., ArchiveXL, RED4ext, TweakXL, Cyber Engine Tweaks).
• Duplicate & Clash Resolver: Highlights conflicting file overwrites and duplicate framework installations.
• 1-Click Self-Heal: Automatically purges orphaned hooks and fixes broken loader chains.

🌐 Universal 3-Store Browser

Browse, search, and 1-click install mods directly inside ModForge:

• 🟣 Nexus Mods: Full API integration, endorsing, tracking, and 1-click nxm:// protocol handling.
• ⚡ Mod Store: Thunderstore community catalog integration with automatic dependency resolution.
• 🟢 mod.io: Cross-platform and indie game repository browsing.
• 📦 Local Archives: Seamless drag-and-drop support for .zip, .7z, and .rar packages.

🎮 Deep Multi-Engine Matrix

Out-of-the-box engine routing and auto-injection:

• Unreal Engine 4 & 5: UE4SS auto-setup, PAK file routing, dev archive pruning, and DLL proxy loaders (dwmapi, xinput).
• Unity (Mono & IL2CPP): BepInEx 5/6, MelonLoader, and Doorstop injection.
• Capcom RE Engine: Automated setup for Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and Dragon's Dogma 2.
• CD Projekt RED (REDengine 3 & 4): Cyberpunk 2077 & The Witcher 3 framework chaining.
• Bethesda Engine: Plugin load order (.esp, .esm, .esl), BSA/BA2 asset routing.
• Godot Engine: Native PCK and GDExtension mod isolation.
• Source & GoldSrc: VPK mapping and custom game routing.

🛡️ Safe Mode Play & 1-Click Modpack Exporter

• Safe Mode: Launch games with essential core loaders active while content mods are temporarily paused—letting you isolate bugs without uninstalling mods.
• Standalone Modpack Exporter: Package your complete mod setup into a clean .zip archive to share with friends or transfer to another PC/Deck.

🔑 Zero-Leak API Keys Vault

• Secure storage for Nexus Mods, mod.io, and VirusTotal keys.
• Preserves credentials across all games, sessions, and platforms with zero re-entry required.

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📦 Installation & Setup

Arch Linux / CachyOS / Manjaro (PKGBUILD)

git clone https://github.com/pigeoonn/modforge.git
cd modforge/packaging/arch
makepkg -si

Direct Run from Source (Any Linux Distro)

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/pigeoonn/modforge.git
cd modforge

# Build the Rust release engine
cargo build --release

# Run ModForge
./modforge

Flatpak / AppImage

Pre-built packages and AppImages are available on the Releases page.

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🛠️ CLI Power Tools

ModForge includes a complete command-line toolkit for terminal power users, automation scripts, and Steam Deck desktop shortcuts:

# Start ModForge Studio
modforge

# Start in Steam Deck fullscreen controller mode
modforge --deck

# Enable LAN remote control for phone / tablet
modforge --lan

# Launch a game with its mod profile headlessly
modforge --play "Cyberpunk 2077"

# Launch in vanilla mode (temporarily deploy 0 mods)
modforge --play "Cyberpunk 2077" --vanilla

# Run health diagnostics across all installed games
modforge --doctor

# Handle a 1-click Nexus download link from a browser
modforge nxm://...

# Check version
modforge --version

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📄 License & Philosophy

ModForge is free and open-source software licensed under the GPL-3.0-or-later license.

• No telemetry.
• No accounts or sign-ups required.
• No bloatware.
• Your game files remain untouched and recoverable at all times.