Johnny Silverhand Is In His Thirties

Obviously this is a subjective thing, but while I loved that the new update put a lot more effort and detail into J-man's face -- better details on the normal map, nice beard and eyebrows, better texturing on the mouth and such -- I didn't love that he looked even less like a guy who died in his early thirties. Like, I just turned 32 34 (ough) and yeah, I've got some wrinkles, handful of grey hairs, whatever. But have you seen the texture on this guy? They broke every damn one of his blood vessels.

I love Keanu Reeves, god help me I do, but he was already in his mid-fifties when they were first developing this game and there is no universe where the face texture of a man of his age can be used 1:1 for a guy who's supposed to be twenty years his junior. It's not like we don't know what he looked like in his thirties, even! We've all seen the Matrix!!!

Anyway. Onward:

This mod contains a face texture and normal map for Johnny's new (2. 0+) head model. It keeps some of the new improvements -- new eyebrows, new beard, improved detail around the mouth and nose, etc -- while reducing redness, broken capillaries, skin roughness, and damage (dirt, grime, bruises, cuts). It does not remove his wrinkles, but it reduces them a little; it does not remove his eye-bags, just reduces the bruising.

This is not a straight "bring back Johnny's old textures" replacer, nor a "smooth him out" thing. I really did try to specifically repaint him with the aim to make him look a little less haggard, but not like -- fresh-faced, or anything. Just. A little less like Keanu in his fifties and a little more like Keanu in his thirties. 🤷‍♂️ Also not upscaled, or subjected to any kind of AI tomfoolery - the same size and level of detail of his vanilla textures, all hand-edited by yours truly.

Update: By request, I've added a version w/ increased undereye darkness. I've unrested him. You're welcome. (Under optional files)

29 Jan 2024 - Update: By request, added a version with (subtle, restrained!) eyeliner. Available as a variant for either the standard version or the alternative version, under optional files - it will overwrite the version you already have.

Q: Can I install this with <various other Johnny mods adjusting his clothes, hair, eyes, etc.> or will it conflict?

A: it’s literally just an override for his face textures, so yes, it’s compatible with most everything besides other mods that replace or change Johnny’s face specifically

Q: Will you make a <4k/8k, more/less young, more/less beard, TTRPG-canon, etc> version?

A: no

Q: lololol idiot he did drugs! of course he