I won't spend much time on this post, because I'm working on full power on V3.0. Although this was too important to wait and I crunched a great new feature for V2.6:
Now that Hammer++ supports it, XBLAH's Modding Tool has a fully functional Material Hotspot Editor.
Load the material, create the hotspots, save it. Open Hammer++, create your geometry, hit "Fit" and see the magic hap...
Dear Patrons,
This update fixes a major issue when trying to create mods for the first time, when installing J.A.C.K. or when trying to install Mapbase. There are also new features and some other fixes.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Mods now can have a custom prefabs path.
Added a setting to set the path to a mod's source code. 2025-02-20 18:32:36 +0000 UTC View Post
Mega, a file hosting service, has broken their API. You may notice the error 'Response status code does not indicate success: 402 (Payment Required).' when trying to access some features of the Modding Tool. Because of that, if you haven't already, you won't be able to install:
-JACK
-Mapbase
-Blueprints
-Mod templates
I'm working on a solution to fix that and wil...
Dear Patrons,
This update is huge for GoldSrc modders. The modding tool now has a brand new Material Editor for GoldSrc, a.k.a. WAD Editor / Surface Properties Editor. The guesswork of creating animated textures, liquids, randomly tiled textures and so on is no more! Not just that, but all the settings you need for textures are now in the same UI. It has never been so easy to create new t...
2025-01-28 01:40:10 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
This update focuses on minor fixes to improve quality of life of modders.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Code Editor can now work with different text file encodings.
🛠️ Fixes & Improvements:
Fixed not selecting newly created mapbase mod.
Fixed not selecting another mod when one ...
2024-12-08 15:01:13 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
I've included "workshop templates" for Half-Life 2 and its episodes. Now you can work on your map packs without losing your files inside the game folder. Now there is also an improved background editor, specially for Source games that don't have chapters.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Separated Half-Life Source from Half-Life 2 an...
2024-11-30 17:51:54 +0000 UTC View Post
Hey Modders and Level Designers!
Blocktober is here, and we're excited to kick off a special campaign with XBLAH's Modding Tool! This is your chance to showcase your creativity, share your blockouts, and win big!
🌟 How to Participate:
Design Your Blockout: Use XBLAH's Modding Tool to create an awesome level blo...
2024-09-29 14:48:57 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
If you are a GoldSrc programmer or even just a GoldSrc modder, I have great news for you. The Modding Tool now has mod templates for Opposing Force and Blue Shift! And not only that, but the source code is now available for Half-Life, Opposing Force and Blue Shift.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Added "Half-Life Updated" mod templa...
2024-09-29 00:46:13 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.4! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
VtfSheet resources can now be read.
Added choice to redownload mod templates when they have been updated.
Mater...
2024-09-14 22:08:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.3! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Added a Open Skybox Dialog.
Details editor now has an improved renderer and lets you edit sprite sheets.
Added ...
2024-09-02 01:24:32 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.2! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
HDRIs can now be imported into SDR skyboxes.
Main Menu Title for Source games can have its position, color and font style cust...
2024-08-26 02:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.1! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Added a check to see if the tool is installed in a directory with write permissions.
Added basic support for Strata Branch. <...
2024-07-21 22:53:30 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5! This major update brings significant enhancements, including a massive reduction in the tool's base install size from 850MB to 350MB—a reduction of approximately 59%!
Here's what you can expect:
🆕 New Features and Changes:
Improved Mod Templates: They now featur...
2024-07-08 00:04:14 +0000 UTC View Post
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.4.3! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Quixel Megascan Model Importer: Import stunning Quixel Megascan models directly into Source.
Qui...
2024-07-05 17:09:30 +0000 UTC View Post
This update comes mostly with fixes to make the tool more stable for upcoming new features. Lambda Engine and Lambda Editor's development are going steady: keep an eye on this project, I'm really excited about it. The Lambda Editor is gonna be integrated into the tool, and will be compatible with both GoldSrc and Source, as well as the Lambda Engine. As for the Lambda Engine, I'll have some rea...
2024-05-30 14:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostIt has come to my attention that some Patrons weren't able to log into the tool lately. I've identified the issue and just submitted a patch. Make sure you have v2.4.1.1 or newer. It should update automatically. If it doesn't, you can download the patch here:
https://github.com/xblah-softwa...
Dear Supporters,
I'm thrilled to share an exciting update with you all today! After months of hard work and many iterative improvements, I've laid down a robust roadmap for the initial release of Lambda Engine. This marks a significant milestone in our journey to provide you with a state-of-the-art game engine inspired by the legendary GoldSrc and Source engines, tailored for creating imm...
2024-04-29 23:31:19 +0000 UTC View Post
This update comes mostly with fixes to the Details Editor.
In these version, there are the following new features:
Added Snap to Grid and Tile Preview to Detail Editor's Bound Selection Window
There has also been the following fixes:
Refactored how games and mods are loaded and set as active.
This update comes with both a Hammer++ and Mapbase update!
In these version, there are the following new features:
Mapbase v7.2 with Vizzy's Icon Pack
Native Hammer++ support for Left4Dead 2 and Garry's Mod.
Custom games can now be set under 'cfg/Games.cfg'.
This update adds two new experiental feature: Texture Converter and Particle Converter.
https://xblah.dev/xblah-modding-tool/pricing
In these version, there are the following new features:
Added a batch VTF Version Converter
Added a batch PCF Version C...
2024-04-14 14:38:44 +0000 UTC View Post
XBLAH's Modding Tool has changed a lot since the beginning. From the alpha and beta versions to V1, supporting more engine branches on each update, evolving from a simple Hammer auto-setup to an almost complete modding IDE with V2. The tool is great, and I use it every time I work with GoldSrc or Source. It's one of the shortcuts in my taskbar. But while you are enjoying V2, I need to start thi...
2024-04-01 01:54:31 +0000 UTC View Post
This update adds a new experiental feature: Map Compile Debugger. I'm also testing subscriptions outside Patreon. This will allow me to set up yearly subscriptions for those interested, with a discount.
In these version, there are the following new features:
Added a Map Compile Debugger.
Added support for yearly subscriptions.
This major update has been named Packages Update. As the nickname states, the whole tool's file system has been rewritten from scratch to accommodate changes that happened along the years in development. One major thing you will notice is a new file explorer. It's now part of the Tool's main interface instead of being a separate dialog. It now supports some drag and drop features to and from Wi...
2024-03-10 15:26:10 +0000 UTC View Post
This update brings a new feature both for GoldSRC and Source modders alike: The WAD to VTF/VMT converter! Select a WAD file, and it will convert the file to VTFs and VMTs, and place them in the correct directory in your mod.
Keep in mind this is feature is still in alpha. What works so far:
It has come to my attention that some people weren't able to set up the vcproj registry key using the tool. I've uploaded a patch (v2.2.1) with a fallback method. If anyone still experiences this issue, please, let me know.
2024-01-13 22:06:41 +0000 UTC View Post
This update gives a useful functionality for programmers! If you have tried to build custom libraries for Source in the 20s, you know the struggling trial and error of setting everything up. Starting with Mapbase, with the click of a button, users can now download and configure the mod's source code for Visual Studio 2019 or Visual Studio 2022. In the next patches, I'll be incl...
2024-01-13 13:49:21 +0000 UTC View Post
These updates bring access of the Advanced Edition to the Russian community. Users can now log into the Advanced Edition using Boosty. Although Patreon is still the faster and preferred method, there is now an alternative for those who don't have access to Patreon.
In these versions, there are the following new features:
These updates bring quality of life fixes and a native vtf compiler. This means the tool no longer depends on vtex.exe, so compiling vtfs should now be faster and less error-prone.
In these versions, there are the following new features:
