Syndicate (2012)

Issues and Fixes

Cannot launch the Game

A common fix is launching by Syndicate.exe file straight from the installation folder rather than from any launcher/client.

nVidia users crash

Go to Nvidia control panel by right clicking the icon in the taskbar, then manage 3d settings and set Threaded Optimization to on.

nVidia Optimus Crashes the Game

If you’re using a newer laptop that’s using an nVidia Optimus card, try checking your Optimus settings.

1. Open the “nVidia Control Panel” from your start menu.
2. On the lefthand side, under “Select a task…”
3. Open the “3D Settings” tree, and select “Manage 3D Settings”
4. On the righthand panel, click the “Program Settings” tab.
5. Under “1. Select a program…”, click “Add”, navigate to your installation folder and navigate to the application / exe file.
6. Under “2. Select the preferred graphics…”, choose “High-performance NVIDIA processor”
7. Then (VERY IMPORTANT!) click “Apply” in the bottom right.
8. Launch the game.

No sound or weak sound

For Windows 7 and Windows Vista users:

First of all, update your sound card drivers. If doing that doesn’t clear up the problem, make sure you have volume set to max for Syndicate in the volume mixer (click on the little speaker icon in the bottom-right of your screen in the system tray). If you’re in-game, just alt+tab out of the game and check if Syndicate is set to max in the volume mixer.

Another tip you could try is to go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Communications Tab then select the “Do Nothing” radio button to permanently fix this issue.

For Windows XP users:

Reduce hardware acceleration, or set your speakers to Stereo.

Crash to Desktop upon Launch / Startup

If you’re game randomly crashes upon launching the game, ensure or try the following:

• Update your nVidia / ATI graphics drivers. Check our Technical References page for proper and official download links.
• Turn off SLI / Crossfire then start the game. See if it stabilizes Syndicate performance.
• Turn off your anti-virus software before launching the Syndicate, but make sure you turn it back on after playing. Make sure Windows Defender is also disabled.
• Try using only one GPU first (turn the other one off via your nVidia / ATI graphics control

Game Only Shows Gamepad Controls

If you are having an issue where you only see gamepad controls, and no keyboard mouse controls follow these steps:

• First make sure you have any physical gamepads or joysticks unplugged
• Next open device manager in windows (search using 'device manager' Start Menu if using Vista or newer)
• Under device manager look for "Human Interface Devices", expand this
• Look for any entries related to a gamepad, in some cases these are 'software' controllers, or created by keyboard drivers
• Manually disable all such entries, now when you launch the game, you should get keyboard/mouse controls

It should be apparent right away if the issue is fixed, as the main menu will say "press return to start" instead of "press [start icon] to start"

Multi-Monitor

Multi-Monitor resolution must be set manually in config file.

• Navigate to C:\Users\[user]\Documents\Syndicate\
• Open Environment.cfg in notepad
• Locate VID_DWIDTH=xxxx and VID_DHEIGHT=xxxx and change xxxx to your desired values

Disable bloom

• Enter console with ctr + alt + ~
• Enter xr_effectmodels 0

Note: This will disable some other effects like rain and unfortunately this will not disable massive glow. For that there isn't permanent fix yet. For partial fix disable motion blur.

Disable motion blur

• Navigate to C:\Users\[user]\Documents\Syndicate\
• Open Environment.cfg in notepad
• Locate XR_MOTIONBLUR_DOF=1 and change 1 to 0

Notes:

• This will disable motion blur AND depth of field.
• When character is running glow is also disabled and picture is darker.

Enhanced quality

• Enter console with ctr + alt + ~
• Enter xr_adaptivequalitymode 3
• Enter xr_fxaa 3 for better antialiasing
• Enter xr_postaa 3 for post processing antialiasing
• Enter xr_ssao 2 for ambient occlusion
• Enter xr_ssaogain 0.5 for setting strength of SSAO

Profiles for gaming software

This game doesn't run it's process from EXE file but from BIN file that is located here: \System\Win32_x86_Release\Syndicate.bin. You need to add this path or file name to your gaming software in order to software properly recognize game running.

Logitech G-series Key Profiler

Solution 1:

• Start game
• Alt+tab back to windows
• Create new profile in Profiler and select executable with GamePanel
• Go back to game and push button under LCD

Solution 2:

• Create new profile
• Select Syndicate.exe as executable
• Export profile
• Open exported file with notepad
• Search for Syndicate.exe and change it to Syndicate.bin
• Save and import profile in Profiler

Tested with version 3.06.109

Logitech SetPoint

• Create new profile or edit current one
• Add Syndicate.exe as assigned application
• Close SetPoint
• Navigate to C:\Users\[profile]\AppData\Local\LogiShrd\SetPoint II\Devices\PointingDevice\[numbers]\[numbers]\profiles
• There should be list of your profiles. If it's not, look under different [numbers] folders within PointingDevice folder
• After you located your profiles, go one directory up and open profilemap.xml with notepad
• Search for Syndicate.exe and change it to Syndicate.bin
• Open SetPoint, select your syndicate profile and check if Syndicate.bin is in assigned applications
• If so, click Apply

Tested with version 5.45.10

General Information

• Starbreeze Official Forum
• Widecreen Gaming Forum thread

See Also

Syndicate