Template:Infobox game/row/osxporterTemplate:Infobox game/row/osxporterWarnings
- 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.
This page is for the original version. For the remastered version, see BioShock Remastered.
Key points
- BioShock may crash on startup on Windows 7 and later. See Crash on startup.
- Physics and some animations are locked at 30 FPS. See below how to modify the lock.
General information
- Official Forum
- BioShock Wiki - Large wiki for the BioShock series
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
- The retail, and Amazon.com (Windows) versions use SecuROM DRM. There is no activation limit.[1] An internet connection is required for installation.
- All Mac OS X versions, excluding the Mac App Store, use Feral Interactive's DRM system which requires online activation.
- All remaining Windows versions require Steam DRM.
DLC and expansion packs
Name |
Notes |
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Plasmid Pack |
Freeware, included with patch 1.1 |
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Essential improvements
Skip intro videos
Launch the game with -nointro parameter[citation needed]
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Remove physics and animation frame rate cap
- By default, physics and some animations are capped to 30 FPS.
Use Bioshock Physics Unlocker[2]
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- Download Bioshock Physics Unlocker
- Extract
BioshockPhysicsUnlocker.exe to the game's executable folder (typically located in <path-to-game>\Builds\Release\ )
- Open
BioshockPhysicsUnlocker.exe , type your desired frame rate, and push ↵ Enter.
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Allows you to change settings that are not normally adjustable from the options menu (i.e. custom resolution).
Patches
Patch 1.1 - Steam version is already patched and the humblebundle DRM free version too.
Game data
In-game general settings.
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
Video settings
Template:Video settings
3rd party fixes[citation needed]
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Custom key binding[3]
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- Go to
%APPDATA%\Bioshock\
- Make a backup copy of
user.ini .
- Open the original copy and locate the keybinds by searching for "F10=".
- From here, you may use any unassigned keybinds to set a desired FOV, or to reset the FOV to its default value. For example, to make F10 set the FOV to 120, you'd change the line "F10=" to
F10=SetFOV 120 To make F11 reset the FOV, you'd change the line "F11=" to F11=ResetFOV
- The game may automatically reset your FOV upon loading or after cinematics. You may still use your custom keybinds to change the FOV to your desired value.
- Process can be automated using this tool.
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Anisotropic filtering[citation needed]
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- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
bioshock.ini .
- Find the following lines, and set them to these values.
[D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice]
LevelOfAnisotropy=16
[D3DDrv10.D3DRenderDevice10]
LevelOfAnisotropy=16
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Input settings
In-game general control settings.
In-game key map settings.
Template:Input settings
Instructions[citation needed]
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- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
User.ini .
- Find the following lines and edit them accordingly:
[Default]
W=MoveForward | set Engine.PlayerInput MouseAccelThreshold 0.0 | set Engine.PlayerInput MouseSmoothingMode 0
[Engine.PlayerInput]
MouseSmoothingMode=0
MouseAccelThreshold=0.0
- You can download this small script in order to automate the process.
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Instructions[citation needed]
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- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
User.ini .
- Find the following lines and edit the speed values of all 10 occurrences:
MouseX=IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Count bXAxis | IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Axis aMouseX Speed=2500.0
MouseY=IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Count bYAxis | IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Axis aMouseY Speed=2500.0
- You can download this small script in order to automate the process.
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Hold to Zoom
Instructions[citation needed]
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- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
User.ini .
- Find the button zoom is mapped to (default is Z, in this case RightMouse)
- Change it so it looks like this:
RightMouse=ZoomCycle | onRelease ZoomCycle
Note: This works for walking and crouch as well, changes their lines to (in this case the buttons are Shift and CTRL)
Shift=Walking | onRelease Walking
Ctrl=Duck | onRelease Duck
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Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
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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Russian |
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Spanish |
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VR support
Issues unresolved
- Minor spoilers ahead.
Arcadia: Langford's Safe
- In Arcadia, searching Langford's safe with the Scrounger tonic equipped will cause the safe's contents—including an essential quest item—to disappear.
Fort Frolic: Bathysphere
- In Fort Frolic, leaving the area by using the bathysphere adjacent to the entry bathysphere causes the stage curtains to close upon returning to the area, rendering the Cohen's Masterpiece quest un-completeable, and preventing the player from accessing the exit bathysphere.[4]
Fort Frolic: Rapture Records
- When attempting to kill Silas Cobb, using the Hypnotize plasmid, as doing so will prevent a scripted task from triggering, thus trapping the player in Rapture Records.[5] In order to fix this issue, you must kill yourself (e.g., through the use of the Incinerate! plasmid), or reload an older save.
Notes
- If your saves do not go far back enough, then the first two issues are game-ending. Technically, modifying the save file or using a trainer would also fix the issue, but neither solution has been documented.
Issues fixed
- TweakGuides has created a comprehensive guide for fixing issues in this game.
Crash on startup
Update OpenAL[citation needed]
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Crash upon autosave/quicksave
Crashing applies default settings
Set configuration files to read-only[citation needed]
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- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- In properties, set
bioshock.ini and User.ini to read-only.
Notes
- Additionnal changes to settings cannot be made while files are set to read-only.
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Video settings not saving
Force DirectX 9[citation needed]
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Launch the game with -dx9 parameter.
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Audio cutting out
Edit the maximum number of channels[6]
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- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
bioshock.ini .
- Find the following line, under [FMODAudio.FMODAudioSubsystem], and increase the number of channels.
MaxChannels=128
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Enable EAX[7]
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- Install OpenAL.
- Go to
%WINDIR%\System32 (or %WINDIR%\SysWoW64 for x64 OS's).
- Copy over wrap_oal.dll into the same folder where Bioshock's executable is located (steamapps\common\bioshock\Builds\Release\).
- Rename this file openal32.dll.
- Enable EAX audio in the in-game options.
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Crashing upon changing resolution
Edit default resolution[citation needed]
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- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
bioshock.ini .
- Find the following lines, and set the desired values.
FullscreenViewportX=YourWidth
FullscreenViewportY=YourHeight
MenuViewportX=YourWidth
MenuViewportY=YourHeight
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Change resolutions while in windowed mode[citation needed]
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- Push Alt+↵ Enter, before entering the Video Options menu.
- Set the desired resolution, then apply the changes.
- Leave the Video Options menu, then push Alt+↵ Enter again.
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Excessive screen tearing (Nvidia)
Instructions[citation needed]
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- Go to the NVIDIA Control Panel. Open the 3D Settings menu.
- Add
Bioshock.exe to the list. Enable FXAA and V-Sync.
Notes
- This should be necessary due to "somewhat broken MLAA"[citation needed]
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Frame rate stuttering
Disable V-Sync[citation needed]
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Force DirectX 9[citation needed]
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Launch the game with -dx9 parameter.
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Can't enable EAX in game after updating OpenAL and copying wrap_oal.dll to Bioshock folder and renaming it to OpenAL32.dll
Enable Stereo Mix in sound control panel[8]
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- Right click the speaker symbol on the bottom right of your desktop
- Click "Recording devices"
- Right click in the box and click "Show Disabled Devices"
- Right click "Stereo Mix" and click "Enable"
- Now you should be able to turn on EAX in the Bioshock sound menu
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Sound missing after intro sequence (Windows 8 or Windows 10)
- In Windows 8 and later, Bioshock may have no sound, and it may be impossible to progress past the bathysphere scene as the NPCs become stuck and won't move.
Run the game in Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode[9]
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Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9, 10 |
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OpenGL |
2.0 |
OS X only. |
Shader Model support |
3, 4 |
A shader model 2.0 hack is available here. Note that there were other attempts in the past besides this one though most links are dead, unfortunately. |
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
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macOS (OS X) | |
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Middleware
Mods
Currently three gameplay mods are available:
System requirements
Windows |
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Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP SP2 |
Vista |
Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz
| AMD Athlon 64 x2 Intel Core 2 Duo |
System memory (RAM) |
1 GB |
2 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
8 GB |
8 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 6600 ATI Radeon X1300 128 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible Shader model 3.0 support |
Nvidia GeForce 7900 GT (DirectX 9) Nvidia GeForce 8600 (DirectX 10) 512 MB of VRAM DirectX 10 compatible |
macOS (OS X) |
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Minimum |
Operating system (OS) |
10.5.8 |
Processor (CPU) |
1.4 GHz |
System memory (RAM) |
1.5 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
8 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
128 MB of VRAM |
- Requires an Intel processor. The game does not support Intel GMA integrated video chipsets (older Mac minis and MacBooks), but does run on GeForce 9400M graphics cards or better.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
References