Prerequisites

Before we can begin with modding, there are a few important steps to prepare your environment. Please follow the instructions below to ensure everything is correctly set up.

To get started, download and install Unreal Engine 5.4.4 using the Epic Games Launcher. It is very important to use exactly this version, as SubwaySim 2 modding tools are only compatible with 5.4.4.

• Install Unreal Engine 5.4.4 via the Epic Games Launcher.

After installing Unreal Engine, you will also need the .NET 8.0 Runtime. This component is required for several tools and scripts used throughout the modding workflow.

The link below should start the download automatically. Simply run the installer once the download finishes.

• Install .NET 8.0 Runtime

To comfortably edit Lua scripts later on, we recommend installing Visual Studio Code. It is completely free and supports Lua through community extensions.

• Download Visual Studio Code here: Visual Studio Code – Download

Once installed, open VS Code and navigate to the Extensions section. Search for “Lua”, then install the extension created by sumneko. This extension provides syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, linting, and many helpful features for scripting.

• Open VS Code → Extensions
• Search for: Lua
• Install the extension by sumneko

To create your own mods for SubwaySim 2, you will need the official Modding SDK. It contains all required tools, scripts, and editor configurations used throughout the modding workflow.

• You can find the latest and older Modding SDK versions on GitHub.

After downloading the SDK, extract the ZIP file to a short and simple folder path, ideally something like:

``C:\SubwaySimSDK\``

This is highly recommended because Unreal Engine can produce errors if file paths become too long during the mod packaging process (e.g., when creating the final `.pak` file). Keeping the SDK path short ensures that all internal directories remain within Windows’ path length limits and prevents build issues later on.

Once these steps are completed, your system is fully prepared and you are ready to begin creating mods for SubwaySim 2.

Before you jump into building your first mod, we recommend taking a moment to explore how the Modding SDK is structured. Understanding the plugin system and folder layout will help you avoid common issues and give you a solid foundation for everything that follows.

Continue with the next chapter here: → Modding Framework Explained

We wish you a lot of fun exploring the SubwaySim Wiki and discovering the world of modding for our game. Enjoy creating, experimenting, and bringing your ideas to life!