There are various methods of extending your Left 4 Dead 1 game. You can have custom models, textres amongst other mods. The guide takes you through installing mods using the gameinfo method. You will create new search paths using the gameinfo.txt for New Content.

If you want to learn more about Left 4 Dead modding in general, check out the Dead4Mods Discord server! https://discord.gg/UxK9cBPakn

In order to start the process, ensure you have the following:

• Left 4 Dead Authoring Tools, These are the tools required in case you will be creating and also packing mods for yourself.

• A text editor: Notepad++ or any other text editor will do.

https://notepad-plus-plus.org/downloads/

• GCFScape, This is for opening and unpacking existing vpks with mods

https://nemstools.github.io/pages/GCFScape-Download.html

You must have the Left 4 Dead Authoring Tools installed from the Steam library.


Go to the left4dead/bin directory (not left4dead/left4dead/bin/)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead\bin

Find vpk.exe and create a shortcut to your desktop.





Go to the left4dead base directory where folders like left4dead_dlc3 and left4dead.exe are:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead\

Create a new folder and name it whatever you want, e.g. my_mods.


Drag the desktop shortcut of vpk.exe into the folder you just created. This way, you could create VPKs right in your mod folder.

Create a folder in your mod folder called pak01_dir for example (my_mods\pak01_dir).
Place the mod resources inside it using GCFScape, don't include script files or sound files in your vpk it makes creating the sound.cache more of a pain that it has to be for example with sounds if it screeches.


Drag pak01_dir and drop it on vpk.exe.
Make sure you don't have Left 4 Dead running when you do this, otherwise the VPK will not compile properly.


If you created more mod folders/vpks, name them in sequence: pak02_dir, pak03_dir, etc.


I would recommend making each vpk a specific type of mod, Personally I use pak01_dir for Survivors, Pak02_dir for Infected, Pak03_dir for Weapons and etc.

This is how my mods folder looks for reference:

Navigate to the left4dead/left4dead directory:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead\left4dead\left4dead
Find gameinfo.txt and make a backup copy.


Open gameinfo.txt with a text editor.
Find SearchPaths. It something like this:

SearchPaths
{
Game left4dead_dlc3
Game |gameinfo_path|.
Game hl2
}

Add a new line for each mod folder you created. For example:

SearchPaths
{
Game my_mods
Game left4dead_dlc3
Game |gameinfo_path|.
Game hl2
}

Save the gameinfo.txt file.

• Mods are not working: Verify the gameinfo.txt paths are correct and your mod files in correct directories.

• VPK compilation error: Left 4 Dead must not running when you create the VPK.
  

• If something went wrong, restore original gameinfo.txt or pak01_dir.vpk from your backups.

• My Game Keeps Running Out Of Memory: Apply The 4GB Patch To left4dead.exe With This Link or Replace left4dead.exe by using the left4dead2.exe file and renaming it

https://ntcore.com/4gb-patch/

• My Models Are Invisible: I will make a guide another time with this topic in mind in the future!

• My Mods Are Suddenly No Longer Working: After every update or verifying the game cache, It detects the gameinfo file has been edited and replaces it with the default one, back up every edit you do with it in a separate txt file so you can copy and paste the changes.

Left 4 Dead 1 modding through the gameinfo method is incredibly convenient for the installation and uninstallation of custom content without replacing the base games files and having verifying game files be safe, just make sure to replace the gameinfo to the new one after every verify and update. Now that you read through this tutorial, you can now enjoy a much larger variety in the way you play Left 4 Dead 1. Have fun modding Left 4 Dead 1!

I Personally Recommend GameMaps For Mods

https://www.gamemaps.com/l4d/