Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) version of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
- GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).
Key points
- The PC version features high resolution textures, high quality shadows, tessellation and more PC-specific features while also being fairly well optimized.
- The OS X version also suffers from multiple issues, one being the complete lack of multiplayer, due to the GameSpy services being shut down.[2]
General information
- Official changelog
- GeForce Tweak Guide
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
Steam and Rockstar Games Social Club online key verification on launch.
- All versions require Rockstar Games Social Club for activation and online features.
- All Windows versions use GameShield IronWrap DRM.[4] Rockstar have not disclosed details of how many machine activations are allowed nor any other restrictions.[5]
DLC and expansion packs
Name |
Notes |
|
Cemetery Map |
|
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Classic Max Payne Character |
|
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Deadly Force Burst |
|
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Deathmatch Made In Heaven Pack |
|
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Disorganized Crime Pack |
Free |
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Hostage Negotiation Pack |
|
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Local Justice Pack |
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Painful Memories Pack |
|
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Pill Bottle Item |
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Rockstar Pass |
|
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Silent Killer Loadout Pack |
|
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Special Edition Pack |
|
|
Essential improvements
Patches
Updates for the retail versions can be found here.
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
System |
Native |
Notes |
OneDrive |
|
Requires enabling backup of the Documents folder in OneDrive on all computers. |
Steam Cloud |
|
|
Video settings
Advanced graphics settings.
Letterboxed behavior example (16:10 resolution used).
Template:Video settings
- This game uses vertical FOV. See FOV Calculator for help.
Change FOV with Cheat Engine[6]
|
- Install Cheat Engine.
- Download Max Payne 3 Cheat Table.
- Double-click on the file to open in Cheat Engine.
- Run the game and switch back to Cheat Engine.
- Click on Open Process and select
MaxPayne3.exe .
- Activate the checkbox beside FOV (F3).
- Double-click on the value of 70 to change if needed.
Notes
- Weapon zoom and cutscenes are affected; toggle script with F3 when needed.
- Default FOV is different for certain resolutions lower than FHD.
|
Input settings
Template:Input settings
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
- Though the game doesn't use EAX.dll library, Creative Alchemy still can be used to noticeably enhance sound quality, as it restores also DirectSound3D used by the game [7]. It will just emulate DirectSound and 3D positional audio with OpenAl from translated DirectSound calls. For non-Creative cards users see here or use IndirectSound (worse quality, doesn't use OpenAL). dsoal library is incompatible with Max Payne 3 and (at least) with Max Payne 2.
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
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French |
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German |
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Italian |
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Japanese |
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Korean |
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Brazilian Portuguese |
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Polish |
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Russian |
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Spanish |
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Ukrainian |
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An Ukrainian fan patch is available here |
- Most languages can be forced by using
-language Language
. For Brazilian Portuguese use -language Portuguese
. See Command line arguments.
Network
Multiplayer types
Type |
Native |
Notes |
LAN play |
| |
Online play |
| Versus, Co-op Co-op included in Deathmatch Made In Heaven DLC. OS X multiplayer no longer works.[2] |
Connection types
VR support
Issues fixed
Nothing happens at "Initializing" screen
The game must be installed under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common\Max Payne 3
in order for Social Club to load, which is required to play the game. If the game was installed to a custom Steam folder, there are two methods to solve the issue.
Symlinks[8]
|
It is possible to create a symlink to the folder containing the game, tricking the game into believing it is installed in the correct location.
- Create the folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common\Max Payne 3
- Run
cmd as Administrator and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common\Max Payne 3
- Run the command
mklink /D "Max Payne 3" "K:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\Max Payne 3"
Replacing "K:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\Max Payne 3" with whatever path you have to your Max Payne 3 installation.
Next time you run the game through Steam it will reinstall the prerequisites, and then let you play the game.
|
Copy installation[citation needed]
|
The game must be installed under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common\Max Payne 3 in order for Social Club to load, which is required to play the game. If the game was installed to a custom Steam folder, copy (not move) it to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common\Max Payne 3 , then have Steam uninstall the game, then reinstall it to the default location. Steam will detect the existing files and fix the installation, and the game will proceed properly. If the problem is not solved:
- Ensure the MaxPayne3.exe does NOT have compatibility or Admin rights settings applied.
- Use the -scdetectproxy steam launch option.
- Delete the Social Club installation folder (do not use the uninstaller). Install an earlier version of Rockstar Games Social Club such as v1.0.9.7. Run the game and it will tell you to update the Social Club program. Run the installer from Max Payne 3's MP3Installers folder.
|
Unable to sign into Rockstar Games Social Club
Delete files[9]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Delete
maxpayne3_steam.ini , steam_api.dll and steam_appid.txt
- Verify integrity of game cache.
|
Game will not launch
- The game will not launch for many users.[10]
Change to DirectX 9[11]
|
This can be fixed by going into safe mode, and changing the game to DirectX 9.
- Install game.
- Update GPU drivers.
- Restart PC.
- Use the
-safemode -windowed command line arguments.
- Game settings > set to DirectX 9, with choice of screen resolution and fullscreen.
- Remove the command line arguments.
|
Negative mouse acceleration and frame dependent mouse sensitivity
- Even after the patch which introduced a mouse acceleration toggle, some players experience negative mouse acceleration as well as frame rate dependent sensitivities.
- There are currently no true fixes for the negative mouse acceleration.
Reduce graphics settings[citation needed]
|
Turning off FXAA, MSAA, and vsync may help to make negative mouse acceleration tolerable.
|
Copy ddraw.dll to Max Payne 3 folder
|
Copy ddraw.dll from Windows\System32 folder, or SysWow64 folder (different file size), or just download
Custom ddraw.dll changes mouse feeling too. Or maybe not in every case for better.
It can be easily tested even in main menu.
- Not sure if custom libraries don't cause rare falling under map glitch on the airport level, or not loading part 2 of the office level (though SweetFX or dsound.dll can be also culprits).
- Rinput dosen't work in this game.
|
Game goes to pause menu randomly
This error is usually caused by having an Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter plugged into USB.
Remove Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter[citation needed]
|
Error code 1641 on launch
Restart[citation needed]
|
- This error is related to .NET 3.5.
- Restarting the computer should fix the error, but if not try reinstalling .Net 3.5 and restarting.
|
Game crashes with StackHash_XXX Error
Administrator privileges[citation needed]
|
Run maxpayne3.exe as an administrator.
|
Fix Data Execution Prevention setting[citation needed]
|
Ensure Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is set to the default (Windows programs and services only).
|
ERR_OS_VISTA
- This error message can be caused on the Steam version of the game when Steam is forced by the OS into compatibility mode.
ERR_OS_VISTA[citation needed]
|
- Follow these steps to stop Windows Vista/7 from forcing Steam into compatibility mode:[12]
- Go to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
- Look for an entry with your path to steam.exe
- Delete that entry
- If you don't find it there try
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
|
Graphics settings not saving
- Game may report that video memory is 0/0. This may be caused by older graphics drivers which need updating.
Edit graphics.xml[13]
|
One fix is to edit %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\Max Payne 3\graphics.xml
|
Steam version product key activation error
Move installation folder[citation needed]
|
For the error message "no activations remaining for this activation key" or "cannot contact activation server
[14] when trying to activate the game over socialclub.
- The issue can be remedied by moving your max payne 3 installation from
<Steam-folder>\steamapps\common to <Steam-folder>\steamapps\<user-id>
- Right click on
maxpayne3.exe
- Run it as an administrator.[15] Once this is done, the game will activate properly.
|
Requires Service Pack 1
- The game may show the error message 'Requires Service Pack 1 or superior'.
Requires Service Pack 1[citation needed]
|
- This can be fixed by finding the
maxpayne3.exe file.
- Right clicking and setting the compatibility mode to "Windows XP (Service Pack 3)".[16]
- Running
maxpayne3.exe as an administrator may also fix the problem.
|
Asus software
- Asus software 'Smart Doctor' or 'Asus Gamer' may cause crashing.
Uninstall Asus software[citation needed]
|
Game freeze during startup
Can be fixed by reinstalling Rockstar Games Social Club before launching. This have to be done every time before launching the game.
Also make sure that your internet connection works fine. Problem may also appear during using Android smartphone as modem. When using Steam version, the problem may appear when you run game's executable without Steam enabled.
New York Minute Hardcore troubleshooting and glitches
- This mode can reveal few glitches which you can encounter during gameplay, resulting being unable to finish the game:
List:
|
- You don't have to fight on stadium with Passos, with enemies searching the balcony (wait till they gone). It's a place with painkillers ahead.
- Fabiana dead during shooting from boat during cutscene (shoot on the enemies from the left side, you can accidently kill her on low brightness)
- IT man will die if you go down the stairs.
- Infinite loading of Branco's office PT 2 (disapears after few NYMHC attempts, try to not skip prior cutscenes to help against this)
- Enemies stop to respawn, doors are closed, in Favela PT 1 (if you flip all the time through the section leading to enemy with flare, and if you run too fast when you spot him from distance - stay where you are when you'll see him until he disapear and when he shoot the flare)
- Rare case when you can't pick up shotgun in a chapel
- You can't shoot helicopter during cutscene of Favela PT 2 level (1. If you have no ammo left for M972 2. If you picked up M972 after enemy)
- You can't destroy mentioned helicopter (if you shoot only once in the rocket, and even bullet cam appeared then)
- Caps lock, num lock, scroll lock are not registered as pressed, during melee fight in the end of Favela level (don't use them as any of primary keys - only as secondary)
- Game is glitched when you get hit while shooting Desert Eagle on a rope (probably while shooting very fast and inaccurate)
- You're dead after the end of the armoured-truck-defence cutscene (if you keep pressing W while it is shown - key is still registered - in result, you go out from the cover)
- Shooting with Desert Eagle with no ammo during train jump cutscene in the end level (if you didn't replace this weapon in second slot from the beginning; immediately after bullet time cutsence you have still no ammo)
- Random crashes during the game (use Steam in offline mode - game's more stable, set your CPU/GPU clocks to stock values, restart computer before playing)
- Rare falling under map glitch in airport level (not sure if any of custom libraries cause it, e.g. SweetFX, ddraw, dsound or slow HDD)
- If you use no cutscenes script, carefully read notes here
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9, 10, 10.1, 11 |
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
macOS (OS X) | |
|
|
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Physics |
Euphoria |
|
Multiplayer |
GameSpy |
OS X version only. No longer works.[2] |
- Add parameters to a
commandline.txt
file in the installation folder, or see command line arguments for other methods.
Parameter |
Description |
adapter |
Force specific DirectX adapter starting from 0. |
aspectratio |
Force aspect ratio [width:height]. |
availablevidmem |
Force Video RAM limit to the amount specified (MB). |
cpucount |
Force CPU count if query is not successful. |
d3dmt |
Force multi-threaded DirectX runtime. |
dx10 |
Force DirectX 10 if available. |
dx10_1 |
Force DirectX 10.1 if available. |
dx11 |
Force DirectX 11 if available. |
dx9 |
Force DirectX 9. |
frameLimit |
Force VSync [0, 1, 2] |
fullscreen |
Force Fullscreen mode. |
fxaa |
Force FXAA quality [0..3]. |
gpucount |
Force GPU count if query is not successful. |
height |
Force vertical resolution. |
language english |
Force English language. |
language french |
Force French language. |
language italian |
Force Italian language. |
language german |
Force German language. |
language spanish |
Force Spanish language. |
language russian |
Force Russian language. |
language portuguese |
Force Portuguese language. |
language polish |
Force Polish language. |
MSAA |
Force MSAA [0..5]. |
MSAAQuality |
Force MSAA quality level. |
nomouseaccel |
Disable mouse acceleration. |
outputMonitor |
Force specific monitor starting from 0. |
reflectionquality |
Force reflection quality [0..3]. |
refreshrate |
Force refresh rate. |
safemode |
Force game to load with safest settings. |
shadowquality |
Force shadow quality [0..3]. |
ssao |
Force SSAO [0..1]. |
stereo |
Force 3D stereo support [0..1] (1 is on) |
tessellation |
Force tessellation quality [0..3]. |
texturefilterquality |
Force the Anisotropic texture filter quality [0..4]. |
texturequality |
Force the texture quality [0..2]. |
useHighQualityShaders |
Force usage of high quality shaders [0..1]. |
waterquality |
Force water quality [0..2]. |
width |
Force horizontal resolution |
windowed |
Force windowed mode. |
Mods
Script hook and trainer/mod menu
- To activate, press F4. Press 8 to scroll up, 2 down, 0 to back out, 5 to accept, 6 scroll sideways.
Skip in-game cutscenes
- If you skip the cutscenes before specific parts (detailed below), the game won't finish loading properly, forcing you to die or reload the checkpoint, ending a NYMHC run.
Install skip cutscenes script[17]
|
- Download Max Payne 3 Script Hook.
- Copy
ScriptHook.dll and dinput8.dll to the game folder.
- Download Max Payne 3 Skip Cutscenes Script.
- Extract the .asi script to the game folder.
Notes
- In chapter one, after saving Fabiana, Max will be stuck in the elevator and unable to move.
- In chapter seven, after the part where Max is hanging in the ascending chain during the warehouse section and before the screen fades to gameplay, you are instantly killed.
- In chapter eight, right at the end, in the area where Max and Passos emerge from the morgue and have to deal with the guy up on the balcony (the room with the red carpets and curtains), the area fails to load here if you skip the cutscene, forcing you to reload the checkpoint.
- In chapter nine, when you skip the second scene with the explosion, game is crashing after moving forward.
|
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP SP3 |
Vista SP2, 7 SP1, 8 |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 AMD Phenom II X2 2.6 GHz |
Intel Core i7-3930K 3.06 GHz AMD FX-8150 3.6 GHz |
System memory (RAM) |
2 GB |
16 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
35 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT AMD Radeon HD 3400 512 MB of VRAM
| Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 AMD Radeon HD 7970 2 GB (Nvidia) 3 GB (AMD) of VRAM |
Sound (audio device) |
100% DirectX 9.0 compatible |
DirectX 9.0 compatible supporting Dolby Digital Live |
macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
10.7.5 Lion |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Dual Core Xeon 2.4 GHz or greater Intel Core i Series 2.4 GHz or greater |
System memory (RAM) |
4 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
32 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT AMD Radeon HD 4870 512 MB of VRAM |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
References