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How to install The Citizen (mod)

By Ttiki

A quick guide to help you install the mod "The Citizen" for Half-Life 2 with some troubleshooting for the most common error you could encounter during the process.

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Created by

Ttiki
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Category: Game Modes, Modding or Configuration, Walkthroughs

Languages: French

Posted

Updated

4 Sep, 2022 @ 3:31am

28 Jun @ 10:15am

746	Unique Visitors
21	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

2025 UPDATE

Introduction

Download the files

Installation

Troubleshoot

Comments

2025 UPDATE

Hello everyone!

Little update as of 2025. I wanted to rewrite this guide in more details and to englobe the full The Citizen serie. And I might do this but right now, an incredible good video by Lucia on how to install any mod for Half-Life 2 was uploaded on the 15th of June 2025.
You can find this video, it is very detailed and easy to follow : https://youtu.be/rwheevzvxzo?si=uA_tZmoxHxu4CPU9

Introduction

Welcome to this installation guide for the mod The Citizen for Half-Life²!

This guide is a written remake of my old YouTube video on How to install The Citizen. If you prefer, you can watch the video version. It's old, and it's only text on screen. However, it did already help some people install the mod and it's still accurate on how to install it!

If you have any problem, you can use the comments below to ask your question and report your problem. I or someone from the community will come back to you as soon as we can to help you!
And, if you like this guide, consider giving it a thumbs up!

Download the files

Before we begin with the installation, let's go over what files to download to get everything working. Follow these steps carefully and be sure to download the correct files and set the correct betas for the Steam application we are going to download.
Let's begin with the easier part of the downloads.

Downloads on Steam

Half-Life²

I know it seems basic, but you need to have Half-Life² installed in your Steam library (and have a proper version!!!! )

Source SDK 2013 Singleplayer

The second and last thing to download from Steam is the Source SDK 2013 branch (Singleplayer).

You will need to change the beta branch used by the SDK for the mod to work. So whenever you have the SDK installed in your Steam library, right-click> Properties > Beta and chose the -upcoming beta branch.

Here is the result after downloading and changing the beta branch.

Downloads on ModDB

The Citizen v1.1

The first file from the ModDB page you are going to download is "The Citizen v1.1.

The Citizen Patch - Source SDK 2013

The second and last file you want to download is The Citizen Patch - Source SDK 2013.

The download process is done! Congratulation!

Installation

Now for the fun part of dragging and dropping files from point A to point B on your computer, in the hope to have everything working by the end...

Sourcemod and downloads

The sourcemod folder is where you will want to place everything in order to register the mod and to let Steam display it in your library. I would suggest you open the sourcemod folder and the download (or wherever you have downloaded the files on your computer) on a separate window. You are going to juggle between those two folders during the whole process of the installation!
The sourcemod folder is located inside: Steam>Steamapps.

If you have opened the two folders, we can begin with the installation!

The Citizen v1.1

Unzip the folder The Citizen to the sourcemods folder we have previously opened. You can ignore the other files located inside the archive.

The Citizen Patch - Source SDK 2013

Now, you do the same with the fix for the Source SDK 2013.
Note: this time, you will have only one folder inside the archive. Within it will be the folder you want to drag and drop inside the sourcemods folder. If your computer asks you if you want to replace some files, click yes.

When you are done with the steps above, you will need to restart Steam for the mod to appear in the library. And it should be ready to go!

Troubleshoot

You did everything right but the mod is still not working? Let's go over the most common errors and ways to fix them in this section!

Verify the cache of your Half-Life² games on Steam

As this long title suggests, you should verify the game files of Half-Life² on Steam. To do this, go into your library > right-click on Half-Life² > Properties > Local Files > Verify integrity of game files... Stea will check and download any missing / corrupted files.

Install the July 2010 patch

Install July 2010 Patch and install it just like we did for the Source SDK 2013 patch.

Fix the gameinfo.txt

Thanks to Capt.Host and this Steam forum discussion for this fix.

Originally posted by Capt.Host:
Find gameinfo.txt in the mod's directory. Delete all contents in the file and paste the appropriate code below.
Remember to always backup the original file.
Be sure to replace MODNAME with the mod's name.

For HL2 mods (SteamAppId 220)
"GameInfo" { name "MODNAME" game "MODNAME" title "MODNAME" title2 "" type singleplayer_only icon "resource\icon" homepage "" developer "" FileSystem { SteamAppId 220 SearchPaths { game_lv hl2/hl2_lv.vpk game+mod hl2/hl2_sound_vo_english.vpk game+mod hl2/hl2_pak.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_textures.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_sound_misc.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_misc.vpk platform |all_source_engine_paths|platform/platform_misc.vpk mod+mod_write+default_write_path |gameinfo_path|.. game+game_write hl2 gamebin hl2/bin game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2 platform |all_source_engine_paths|platform } } }

For EP2 mods (SteamAppId 420)
"GameInfo" { name "MODNAME" game "MODNAME" title "MODNAME" title2 "" type singleplayer_only icon "resource\icon" homepage "" developer "" FileSystem { SteamAppId 420 ToolsAppId 211 AdditionalContentId 220 SearchPaths { game+mod |gameinfo_path|. platform |gameinfo_path|. game_lv hl2/hl2_lv.vpk game+mod ep2/ep2_english.vpk game+mod ep2/ep2_pak.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|episodic/ep1_english.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|episodic/ep1_pak.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_english.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_pak.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_textures.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_sound_vo_english.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_sound_misc.vpk game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2/hl2_misc.vpk platform |all_source_engine_paths|platform/platform_misc.vpk mod+mod_write+default_write_path |gameinfo_path|. game+game_write |gameinfo_path|. gamebin episodic/bin game |all_source_engine_paths|episodic game |all_source_engine_paths|hl2 platform |all_source_engine_paths|platform } } }

You did this extra step and still couldn't get the mod working? Post your problem in the comment below. We will reach you as soon as we can to help you and I will update this section as often as I can with new steps that worked for others!

25 Comments

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Ttiki [author] 28 Jun @ 1:26am

Ttiki [author] 15 Jun @ 9:03am

IMPORTANT ! Ok, I have FINALLY put that to the top of my to-do list. I'll rework the guide and rewrite a new one. I will try to find the best process in order to install the mods.

Lemon Nade 15 Jun @ 6:25am

Thx! I should play The Citizen return for a while.

Ttiki [author] 14 Jun @ 6:39am

@Lemon Nade Generally it has to do with the GameInfo.txt...

I really need to rewrite this guide with the new updates. If I stumble upon something, I'll let you know

Lemon Nade 14 Jun @ 5:30am

@Ttiki okay

After I installed 3 of them, 2/3 show in my library but The Citizen 2 won't show up. Have any an idea to fix it?

Ttiki [author] 14 Jun @ 2:55am

@Lemon Nade, good question... It's been a long time since I played these mods... I think it was The Citizen, The Citizen 2 and then The Citizen return (?)

Lemon Nade 11 Jun @ 12:29am

I have question what's different between The Citizen 2 and the Citizen return?

Ttiki [author] 5 Oct, 2024 @ 1:25am

@bærnay agree and if I remember correctly, there have been some updates to the mod itself to fix some problems. Sadly, The few of my free time is rare and often use. I will try my best to publish a new guide soon. I should have some more free time soon hopefuly

baernay 4 Oct, 2024 @ 9:08pm

multiple people are having problems with this guide you need to update it

that spy 3 Jul, 2024 @ 9:30am

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