Maps - Skyboxes

Change the Skybox of different maps

Preparation

Locate your game folder and find this folder if you are on Origin:

Origin Games\Titanfall2\vpk\

Or this folder if you are on Steam:

Steam\steamapps\common\Titanfall2\vpk\

Copy these files and paste them in a backup folder somewhere else:

englishclient_mp_<<mapname>>.bsp.pak000_dir.vpk

client_mp_<<mapname>>.bsp.pak000_000.vpk

Make sure to make a Backup of every single Map you edit, Since every map has it's own VPK.

You will need the Titanfall VPK Tool, a program which allows you to open and repack Titanfall VPK files. It can be found in the Modding Tools page

Modding tools

Unpacking

Now that these files have been backed up and everything is installed. Navigate to your game folder and open this file:

Origin Games\Titanfall2\vpk\englishclient_mp_<<mapname>>.bsp.pak000_dir.vpk

How to backup, extract & repack

Editing

Navigate to this location in your extracted folder

\models\vistas

This folder contains the models for the skyboxes and scene elements. Edit those files at your own risk.

Skybox Basics

The only working Skybox is the extraction scene named planet_blue_sun.mdl which is present in every \models\vistas directory (except live fire maps, excluding deck). Because it is mandatory for the successful extraction phase process of every map.

To swap skyboxes simply duplicate planet_blue_sun.mdl and rename the duplicate to the name of the skybox of the map.

duplicate "planet_blue_sun.mdl"

rename the duplicate

delete the original skybox

Exceptions

Some maps have the ending _se instead of _ _sky_. It is the exact same editing process though.

Some maps feature an additional file in the directory. Make sure not to swap the wrong ones.

What NOT to do

Removing the Files will result in the disappearing of the skybox.

Renaming other skyboxes to the existing ones of the map and replacing them leads to the textures not loading in, since they are applied via a script, which is not in the VPK itself.

The reason behind this not working is because the textures are not applied via a VPK. Every map has a different VPK. Textures that are not normally on the map stay missing because the script applying them does not apply them there. Once we figured out how to edit .rpak files changing actual skyboxes becomes a possibility.

Examples

Obviously this wasn't made to be the skybox for normal maps. So there are little errors all around the place.

Note that the old scene lights are still present and might look a little out of place on some maps.

https://gfycat.com/alldecisivefinwhalegfycat.com

Kodai with "mat_sky_color 0.5 0.5 0.5;mat_sun_color 0.5 0.5 0.5"

Glitch with"mat_sky_color 0.5 0.5 0.5;mat_sun_color 0.5 0.5 0.5"

Homestead with "mat_sky_color 0.5 0.5 0.5;mat_sun_color 0.5 0.5 0.5"

Note that the _ENTIRE_** surrounding scenery disappears.**

Angel City with "mat_sky_color 0 0 0; mat_sun_color 0 0 0"

Drydock with"mat_sky_color 0.5 0.5 0.5;mat_sun_color 0.5 0.5 0.5"

Complex with "mat_sky_color 0.5 0.5 0.5;mat_sun_color 0.5 0.5 0.5"

Repacking

How to backup, extract & repack

After closely following the previous link step by step:

Rename pak000_000.vpk to client_mp_ <<mapname>> .bsp.pak000_000.vpk

Rename pak000_dir.vpk to englishclient_mp_ <<mapname>> .bsp.pak000_dir.vpk

Make sure to pay attention when renaming them because every map has it's own VPK.

Place both of the renamed files back into your game directory and then launch Titanfall 2. You should be able to see the changed skybox!

Skybox Basics