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Engine:Source

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Source
Source logo.svg
Developers
Valve Corporation
First release date
October 7, 2004
Predecessor
GoldSrc
Successor
Source 2
 

Other information

Source Dedicated Server

Works with multiple Source-based games.
See the "Source Dedicated Server", "SteamCMD" (for most Source games), or "HLDUSUpdateTool" (for games which haven't received updates for a while) articles on the Valve Developer Community Wiki for more information.
See also the the Steam Support article for setting up a Source Dedicated Server through Steam and the article on setting one up stand-alone.

Command line arguments

Can be used to increase performance in Source-based games and fix various problems.
Longer launch options can be stored in autoexec.cfg (without the - prefix and with every command on its own line) in the game's config folder for easier readability and editing. Starting the game with the -autoexec command is required.
See the Command Line Options article on the Valve Developer Community Wiki for more information.

Issues fixed

High frame rate

Many Source engine games have a 300 FPS cap by default. Users with a strong PC and high refresh rate displays may want to change or disable this cap.
Instructions
  1. Make sure the developer console is enabled. Since many Source engine games usually have the same UI, it can be located in the game's Options > Keyboard > Advanced > Enable developer console.
  2. Press ~ and type fps_max up to 1000; use 0 for uncapped frame rate.

Game launches in an unsupported or unusable resolution

Add your resolution to the game's launch options[citation needed]
  1. Navigate through your Steam library and open the game's properties.
  2. Add -width X -height Y to the game's launch options. Where X is your horizontal resolution and Y your vertical resolution.
  3. Press OK.

Console doesn't open

Make sure developer console is enabled. This can usually be toggled in the Advanced Settings under Keyboard/Controls.
You can't use the button above Tab ↹ and to the left of 1 to open the console, this is because the game only recognizes ~, which is not present on non-US keyboard layouts. There are two possible solutions:
Bind another key[citation needed]
  1. Navigate through your Steam library and open the game's properties.
  2. Add -console to the game's launch options. Start the game.
  3. Type in the console bind x toggleconsole (where x is the button you want permanently assign to this).

Notes

You can then remove the -console switch.
Bind console key with autoexec[citation needed]
  1. Navigate to the configuration file location.
  2. Create or open your autoexec.cfg file with your text file editor of choice.
  3. Make a new line and write bind x toggleconsole where x is the button you'll press to open up the console.
  4. Save and exit the text editor.

Notes

You might need add exec autoexec to your launch parameters if it doesn't get executed automatically by the game.
Change keyboard layout[citation needed]
  1. Open Language and Country settings in Windows's the control panel.
  2. Select Change keyboard into Language and Keyboard tab.
  3. Add English (US) keyboard to the list of the available.
  4. Make sure you are using it and save.

Some maps are way too dark on Intel HD Graphics GPUs

Games and maps using ambient occlusion can be very dark on Intel HD Graphics. Upstream issue here.

Modify configuration file

If the console mat_tonemapping_occlusion_use_stencil is available (e.g. in Garry's Mod):

  1. Set mat_tonemapping_occlusion_use_stencil to 1

Notes

If the setting does not save, add it to the game's autoexec.cfg

If the console variable is not available (e.g. in CS:GO or Left 4 Dead 2):

  1. Edit <Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\<appid>\local\cfg\video.txt
  2. Add "setting.mat_tonemapping_occlusion_use_stencil" "1"
  3. Save and set the file to read-only.

Notes

Not setting the file permissions to read-only will revert the change on the next game launch.

"High" shadow detail option is missing

The setting is only shown if Shadow Depth Textures are supported.[1] However the Source Engine has always only checked this feature against a hardcoded selection of known GPU vendors.[2] This notably excluded everything from Intel in the past.[3][4]
Launch the game with the -force_vendor_id 0x10DE -force_device_id 0xFFFF command line arguments[5]
These parameters were not supported before some 2012~2013 engine update.[Note 1]
Fake your GPU vendor ID in the system properties[6]
  1. Open regedit.
  2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum
  3. Open the key of the interested GPU (use the wmic PATH Win32_VideoController GET PNPDeviceID command for a clue)
  4. Take its ownership to the current user (Permissions > Advanced > Owner)
  5. Make sure at least a group between Administrators, Users, Everyone or Owner Rights has Full Control permissions.
  6. Add the spoofed details at the top of the HardwareID string (e.g. PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_FFFF)

Notes

This doesn't work from Windows 8 onwards.
The last step has to be repeated after every reboot (though a .reg file could be created to expedite the changes)
Spoof your GPU vendor ID through custom dll
  1. Download the Intel bypass pack or Alternate D3D9 fix for ATI
  2. Extract d3d9.dll into <path-to-game>\bin\.

Notes

It's not advised to play in VAC protected servers with this solution.

Enabling 7.1 Output (Windows Vista and later)

Even when 7.1 speaker option is selected, game may still output to only 5 speakers, leaving the side surround speakers void of sound.
This issue is typically present in Source engine games that use Miles Sound System.
Enable 7.1 Speaker Output In Source Engine Games[citation needed]
  1. Refer to Restoring Legacy Audio Effects (DirectSound 3D) and enable DirectSound 3D based on the audio device you have.
  2. Run the game and open the console (~).
  3. In the console, type: snd_legacy_surround 1
  4. Restart the game.
  5. Select 7.1 speaker output from the game's options.

Notes

If only up to 5.1 is available, select 5.1 and the game will discretely output to 7 speakers.
If using Creative's ALchemy, Source engine games typically need Buffers set to 5 and Duration set to 10.

Games

Game Developer Publisher First release
Age of Chivalry Team Chivalry September 10, 2007
Alien Swarm Valve Corporation July 19, 2010
Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop Reactive Drop Team April 20, 2017
Amalgam Troiz November 10, 2020
Amygdala: Prelude Moonlit Journeys January 1, 2024
Anarchy Arcade Elijah Newman-Gomez
Aperture Tag: The Paint Gun Testing Initiative Aperture Tag Team July 15, 2014
Apex Legends Respawn Entertainment Electronic Arts February 4, 2019
Bear Party: Adventure Klems April 22, 2020
Black Mesa Crowbar Collective March 6, 2020
Blade Symphony Puny Human May 7, 2014
Bloody Good Time Outerlight Ubisoft October 29, 2010
BrainBread 2 Reperio Studios March 9, 2022
Consortium Interdimensional Games January 6, 2014
Consortium Remastered Interdimensional Games
Contagion Monochrome LLC April 11, 2014
Counter-Strike Online 2 Nexon Nexon, TianCity, Beanfun November 28, 2013
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Valve Corporation, Hidden Path Entertainment August 21, 2012
Counter-Strike: Source Valve Corporation, Turtle Rock Studios, Hidden Path Entertainment Valve Corporation, Buka Entertainment October 7, 2004
D.I.P.R.I.P. Warm Up EXOR Studios March 18, 2008
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic Arkane Studios, Floodgate Entertainment, Kuju Entertainment Ubisoft October 24, 2006
Day of Defeat: Source Valve Corporation September 26, 2005
Day of Infamy New World Interactive March 23, 2017
Dear Esther The Chinese Room, Robert Briscoe February 14, 2012
Dino D-Day 800 North, Digital Ranch April 8, 2011
Divinia Chronicles: Relics of Gan-Ti Team Monkey September 18, 2022
Dota 2 Valve Corporation July 9, 2013
Dystopia Puny Human September 10, 2005
E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy Streum On Studio July 29, 2011
Empires Empires March 4, 2006
Entropy: Zero Breadmen October 10, 2017
Entropy: Zero 2 Breadmen August 20, 2022
Estranged: Act I Alan Edwardes January 16, 2014
Evacuation Evac Dev. Team SMRC January 6, 2023
Fast Detect Phosphorus Games October 7, 2016
Firefight Reloaded Bitl Cobalt-57 November 5, 2015
Fistful of Frags Fistful of Frags Team May 9, 2014
Fortress Forever Fortress Forever Development Team September 13, 2007
G String Eyaura LunchHouse Software October 16, 2020
Garry's Mod Facepunch Studios Valve Corporation December 24, 2004
GoldenEye: Source GESHL2 Team February 7, 2009
Half-Life 2 Valve Corporation Sierra Entertainment, Valve Corporation, 1C-SoftClub, Buka Entertainment November 16, 2004
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch Valve Corporation November 30, 2004
Half-Life 2: DownFall Marnamai April 17, 2017
Half-Life 2: Episode One Valve Corporation Valve Corporation, Buka Entertainment June 1, 2006
Half-Life 2: Episode Two Valve Corporation Valve Corporation, Buka Entertainment October 10, 2007
Half-Life 2: Genry's Great Escape from City 13 Kirill Bulavintsev Razgilday Production June 23, 2020
Half-Life 2: Lost Coast Valve Corporation October 27, 2005
Half-Life 2: VR Mod Source VR Mod Team September 16, 2022
Half-Life 2: VR Mod - Episode One Source VR Mod Team March 17, 2023
Half-Life 2: VR Mod - Episode Two Source VR Mod Team April 6, 2023
Half-Life 2: Year Long Alarm Chuck Wilson April 4, 2012
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source Valve Corporation May 1, 2006
Half-Life: Source Valve Corporation November 16, 2004
Hunt Down the Freeman Royal Rudius Entertainment February 24, 2018
INFRA Loiste Interactive January 15, 2016
Insurgency New World Interactive January 22, 2014
Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat Insurgency Development Team New World Interactive October 23, 2007
IOSoccer IOSoccer Team
Jabroni Brawl: Episode 3 Team Jabroni November 11, 2022
JBMod Team JBMod December 1, 2004
Kreedz Climbing ObsessionSoft June 15, 2017
Lambda Wars Vortal Storm December 5, 2014
Left 4 Dead Valve South, Valve Corporation Valve Corporation, Akella November 17, 2008
Left 4 Dead 2 Valve Corporation Valve Corporation, Akella November 19, 2009
Lost Squad Oak Gear
Military Conflict: Vietnam Dustfade
MINERVA Adam Foster April 28, 2013
Momentum Mod Momentum Team
NeoTokyo STUDIO RADI-8 July 3, 2009
No More Room in Hell No More Room in Hell Team Lever Games October 31, 2011
Nuclear Dawn InterWave Studios, GameConnect Iceberg Interactive September 26, 2011
Obsidian Conflict Obsidian Conflict Team
Operation: Black Mesa Tripmine Studios
Pirates, Vikings, and Knights II Octoshark Studios February 12, 2010
Portal Valve Corporation, Lightspeed Studios Valve Corporation, Buka Entertainment, Nvidia October 9, 2007
Portal 2 Valve Corporation Valve Corporation, Buka Entertainment April 19, 2011
Portal 2 Sixense Perceptual Pack Sixense Studios Sixense Entertainment September 20, 2013
Portal Reloaded Portanis April 19, 2021
Portal Stories: Mel Prism Studios June 25, 2015
Portal: Revolution Second Face Software January 6, 2024
Postal III Trashmasters Akella, CYBERFRONT Corporation, Deep Silver November 23, 2011
Prospekt SCT February 18, 2016
Requiem of Science Kirill Bulavintsev January 7, 2022
Revelations 2012 Dark Artz Entertainment April 23, 2012
Rexaura Benjamin Bryant December 10, 2014
SiN Episodes: Emergence Ritual Entertainment May 10, 2006
Smashball Smashball Labs June 18, 2009
Snowdrop Escape SnowDropEscape Development Team Eduard Rostovtsev January 20, 2021
Swelter SnowDropEscape Development Team Eduard Rostovtsev June 26, 2023
Synergy Synergy Team September 1, 2005
Tactical Intervention FIX Korea October 8, 2013
Team Fortress 2 Valve Corporation, Escalation Studios Valve Corporation, Buka Entertainment October 9, 2007
The Beginner's Guide Everything Unlimited October 1, 2015
The Forgotten Ones Bernt Andreas Eide July 16, 2014
The Hidden: Source Hidden Team June 13, 2005
The Ship Outerlight Blazing Griffin July 30, 2006
The Stanley Parable Galactic Cafe October 17, 2013
Thinking with Time Machine Stridemann SignHead Studio April 18, 2014
Titanfall Respawn Entertainment Electronic Arts March 11, 2014
Titanfall 2 Respawn Entertainment Electronic Arts October 28, 2016
Transmissions: Element 120 Shokunin, Thomas M. Visser, Vincent Thiele June 16, 2016
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Troika Games Activision, Electronic Arts November 16, 2004
Vindictus devCAT, Nexon Nexon America January 21, 2010
Zeno Clash ACE Team Tripwire Interactive, Iceberg Interactive April 21, 2009
Zombie Master Zombie Master Team March 11, 2009
Zombie Panic! Source Zombie Panic! Team December 28, 2007


External links

  1. Source


Notes

  1. ↑ Counter-Strike: Global Offensive added it in version 1.0.0.62, but release day Dota 2 still lacked it one year later. Conversely all the first party titles updated to the Source 2013 branch should be good (older licensed engine games or mods might not have been so lucky though, including Left 4 Dead).

References