General information
- TTLG Forums - Thief Series
- TTLG Forums - modding & mission design
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
- SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
- A demo pre-patched with NewDark is available.
Essential improvements
Unofficial Patches
NewDark is an fan-developed update patch to the Dark Engine that gets Thief II: The Metal Age to run on modern systems.
- T2Fix already includes the latest version of NewDark.
- Allows the original (aka OldDark) engine to run on modern systems.
- Also available for Thief Gold
- Not as stable as NewDark, but more true to the original experience.
T2Fix is an "upgrade" patch that updates the game with NewDark, which improves compatibility on modern systems.
- Features many mission fixes and optional texture mods.
- The GOG release has an out-of-date, lite version of this patch. It's recommended that you update the T2Fix Lite, which does not have texture mods and mission fixes or install T2Fix.
- Unlike the GOG release, the Steam release does not use T2Fix.
- Restart the current mission (or progress to the next one) after patch installation. Otherwise you may encounter various issues, such as torches that don't properly go out when extinguished.
Skip intro videos
Tell intro not to play[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam.cfg using a text editor.
- Add the line
skip_intro to the file and save it.
|
Scale UI accurately
UI scales incorrectly at higher resolutions[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via T2Fix.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam_ext.cfg using a text editor.
- Change
;d3d_disp_scaled_2d_overlay 64 to d3d_disp_scaled_2d_overlay 64 .
- Save the file.
|
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- Configuration files are:
cam.cfg
(basic settings, resolution), cam_ext.cfg
(NewDark advanced settings), cam_mod.ini
(Mod and fan mission options), install.cfg
and user.bnd
(key bindings).
Save game data location
- Fan mission saves are kept in the mission's folder.
Video
In-game video options (With
T2Fix)
Use NewDark[citation needed]
|
- Install T2Fix and set the resolution you want in-game.
- If the proper FOV is not detected, go to the installation folder and edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;fov 90 to fov ## with the desired FOV.
- Save the changes and relaunch the game.
|
Set windowed mode[citation needed]
|
- Install T2Fix.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;force_windowed to force_windowed .
- Save the changes and set the chosen resolution in-game.
- For borderless fullscreen windowed mode choose the desktop resolution in-game.
|
- Installing T2Fix enables Vsync by default. Vsync can be disabled.
Disable Vsync[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;vsync_mode 0 to vsync_mode 0 and save the changes.
|
Set frame rate and ensure correct game speed[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Edit
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
framerate_cap 100.0 to framerate_cap ### with the desired framerate.
- Change
;phys_freq 60 to phys_freq 60
- For more than 250 FPS change
SlowFrame 4 to ;SlowFrame 4
|
Input
Audio
Audio options (With
T2Fix)
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
Master volume and ambient sound (usually controls background music in addition to atmospheric sound effects, like machinery). |
Surround sound |
|
See EAX support. |
Subtitles |
|
Supported since NewDark 1.22. T2Fix includes the subtitles. |
Closed captions |
|
|
Mute on focus lost |
|
|
EAX support |
|
A3D (alpha demo only[3]). EAX 2. See EAX support. |
Royalty free audio |
|
All in-game music is original. However, the German credits video has the track "Accingite Vos" by Subway to Sally; the international version is muted entirely. |
EAX support
- Install T2Fix.
Localizations
Network
- T2 Multiplayer is not compatible with NewDark or T2Fix; use the included
thief2.exe
and patch with DDFix.
Multiplayer types
Connection types
VR support
Issues fixed
Crashes on multi-core systems
Install T2Fix[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via T2Fix.
|
Videos do not play
Install T2Fix[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via T2Fix.
|
Gamma slider has no effect on gamma/brightness
T2Fix and config tweak[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via T2Fix.
If the gamma still can not be changed:
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf to d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf .
- Save the file.
|
Lag and stuttering
Add a line to user.cfg
|
Install NewDark via T2Fix.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
USER.cfg .
- Add the line
small_portal_repel .
- Save the file.
|
T2Fix and config tweak[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via T2Fix.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf to ;d3d_disp_no_rgb10_buf .
- Save the file.
|
Laggy/jittery mouse input
Use MarkC's Mouse Acceleration Fix
|
- Go to this website.
- Follow the instructions on the site.
|
T2Fix and config tweak[citation needed]
|
Install NewDark via T2Fix.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam_ext.cfg .
- Change
;d3d_disp_limit_gpu_frames 1 1 to d3d_disp_limit_gpu_frames 1 1 .
- Save the file.
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
6 |
Direct3D 9 requires NewDark/T2Fix. |
Software renderer |
|
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Audio |
DirectSound, OpenAL |
OpenAL requires NewDark/T2Fix. |
View bob
- By default, Thief II: The Metal Age has view bob that may cause motion sickness.
Edit cam_ext.cfg[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
<path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg with a text editor.
- Find the line ;bob_factor 0.3.
- Remove the semicolon and set the value to 0.
bob_factor 0.0
|
Mods
- Standalone FM loader where you can manage, install, and play all of your FMs in one place.
- Supports Thief 1, Thief 2, Thief: Deadly Shadows and System Shock 2.
- Well maintained and open source.
Fan Missions
A large number of Fan Missions, many of very high quality, have been produced for the Thief games.
- A categorised list is available here.
- A pre-patched version of Thief2X, the fan-made expansion pack for Thief 2, can be downloaded here (choose the 'ZIP-archive' link).
Running Fan Missions[citation needed]
|
- Select the option to create a shortcut to the FM Selector during T2Fix installation. If you did not check this option, add the command line argument
-fm on a Thief desktop shortcut or in the Steam interface.
- Start FM Selector using this shortcut.
- Select a folder for installed missions and an FM .zip archive path when prompted. Do not put the archive path inside the FMs folder or vice-versa, otherwise things will not work correctly.
- To install a mission, drop its .zip file (do not extract it) into your chosen archive path, start the selector, double click the mission/zip file name and select 'Ok'. It has now been extracted to the installed missions folder.
- Launch the mission by double clicking the name again. To launch the original game select 'Skip FM' in the lower-left corner.
|
Texture mods
Enhancement Pack 2.0
An updated version of the original Enhancement Pack (which is included in T2Fix and is much less comprehensive). This contains higher quality reproductions of many but not all original textures and objects. Also works with Thief Gold/The Dark Project.
The Necro Age
Very similar to the Enhancement Pack 2, but focuses on giving the game a slightly darker, noir look. Somewhere between the EP2 and HD Mod in lore-accuracy. Also works with Thief Gold/The Dark Project.
Thief 2 HD Texture Mod
Adds new textures and effects to all original missions. Includes a tool to configure advanced graphics settings (Anti-Aliasing, Bloom, etc.).
Thief 2 ESRGAN Texture Pack (mirror)
Thief II: The Metal Age textures upscaled 4x using AI, more accurate to the original textures than other texture packs, but of less resolution than the alternatives.
It is far higher in resolution and detail than the original textures however. Provides more vanilla looking but HD look for the game.
Thief 2X ESRGAN Texture Pack
AI upscaled textures for unofficial Thief II expansion - Thief 2X: Shadows of the Metal Age. Includes upscaled textures and HQ Paintings Pack.
Thief 2 HQ Paintings Pack
Standalone addition to the ESRGAN mod for Thief Gold and Thief II: The Metal Age. All paintings from the game being manually recreated using real life originals from online galleries in HQ 1024x1024 resolution. Could be used with any other modifications.
Additional mods
Sound effects enhancement pack
Provides cleaned up and resampled sound files for Thief Gold and Thief II. The quality difference is particularly noticeable when wearing headphones.
Filtered Cinematics pack
Video Pack provides filtered cinematics with 15 to 30 fps conversion, compression artifacts removal and deinterlacing some of the original videos. Requires T2Fix to work.
It's a part of the Thief 2 ESRGAN Texture Pack, but can be installed standalone.
System requirements
Steam
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP, Vista | |
Processor (CPU) |
1.8 GHz | |
System memory (RAM) |
512 MB |
1 GHz |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
2 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
DirectX 7 compatible
| DirectX 9 compatible |
Disc Version
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
95 |
98 |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium MMX 233 MHz
| Intel Pentium II 400 MHz |
System memory (RAM) |
48 MB |
64 MB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
250 MB |
600 MB |
Video card (GPU) |
4 MB of VRAM DirectX 7 compatible
| 16 MB of VRAM |
Sound (audio device) |
100% DirectX 7.0 compatible sound card |
Creative EAX 2.0-compliant sound card Aureal A3D 2.0-compliant sound card |
Other |
4x CD-ROM drive |
8x CD-ROM drive |
- NewDark's system requirements - and by association those for GOG.com's Windows release - are higher than the original requirements listed here.
Notes
- ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[1] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[2]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below
%PROGRAMFILES%
, %PROGRAMDATA%
, or %WINDIR%
might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore
on Windows Vista and later (more details).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
References