Anonymous edits have been disabled on the wiki. If you want to contribute please login or create an account.

Psychonauts

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Psychonauts
Psychonauts cover
Developers
Double Fine Productions
macOS (OS X) Ryan C. Gordon
macOS (OS X) TransGaming Inc.
Linux Ryan C. Gordon
Publishers
Former Majesco
Current Double Fine Productions
Microsoft Store Xbox Game Studios
Russia Buka Entertainment
Release dates
Windows April 26, 2005
macOS (OS X) (Cider) September 29, 2011
Linux May 31, 2012
macOS (OS X) April 23, 2013
Reception
Metacritic 87
IGDB 85
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase, Subscription gaming service
Modes Singleplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Action, Adventure, Platform, Shooter, TPS
Art styles Cartoon
Themes Supernatural
Series Psychonauts
Psychonauts on HowLongToBeat
Psychonauts on IGDB
Psychonauts guide on StrategyWiki
Psychonauts on MobyGames
Psychonauts on Wikipedia
Psychonauts
Psychonauts 2005
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin 2018
Psychonauts 2 2021

Psychonauts is a singleplayer third-person action, adventure, platform, shooter and TPS game in the Psychonauts series.

General information

Psychopedia - Wiki
Double Fine Action Forums - Psychonauts
GOG.com Community Discussions
GOG.com Support Page
Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
SecuROM 7 DRM disc check.[1]
Windows
GamersGate
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Gamesplanet logo.svg
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
GOG.com
DRM-free
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Green Man Gaming
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Humble Store
DRM-free
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
itch.io
DRM-free
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux
Mac App Store
Icon overlay.png
macOS (OS X)
Microsoft Store
DRM-free after installation through Microsoft Store client (notes may include more details)
Does not require Xbox Live log-in.[2] Included with Xbox Game Pass for PC.
Windows
Steam
DRM-free after installation through Steam client (notes may include more details)
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Linux

Monetization

Type Notes
One-time game purchase The game requires an upfront purchase to access.
Subscription gaming service Available via Xbox Game Pass for PC.

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch 1.04 is available for the retail version.

Skip intro videos

Delete/rename video files[citation needed]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\WorkResource\cutscenes\prerendered\.
  2. Delete or rename DFLogo.bik and, if necessary, MajescoLogo.bik.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\[Note 1]
Microsoft Store %LOCALAPPDATA%\Psychonauts\
macOS (OS X) $HOME/Library/Application Support/Psychonauts/
Linux $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/
AudioSettings.ini stores audio settings.
DisplaySettings.ini stores video settings.
This game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux.

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\Profiles\[Note 1]
Microsoft Store %LOCALAPPDATA%\Psychonauts\Profiles\
macOS (OS X) $HOME/Library/Application Support/Psychonauts/Profiles/
Linux $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles/

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
GOG Galaxy
Steam Cloud
Misconfigured for Linux version. See Steam Cloud not working (Linux).
Xbox Cloud

Video

In-game video settings.
In-game video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
See Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor
See Widescreen resolution.
Ultra-widescreen
See Widescreen resolution.
4K Ultra HD
See Widescreen resolution.
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See Borderless fullscreen windowed.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
FSAA on/off toggle. Causes shimmering and seams on some objects.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
60 FPS
Pre-rendered cutscenes and loading screens are capped at 30 FPS.
120+ FPS
Requires capping frame rate. See High frame rate.
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Widescreen resolution

Fix the HUD, menu, and FMV stretching from 4:3[3]
Set custom resolution[4]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>.
  2. Open DisplaySettings.ini (or create if it does not already exist).
  3. Add or modify the following text to the desired resolution:
[DisplaySettings]
ScreenWidth=1920
ScreenHeight=1080

Borderless fullscreen windowed

Run in borderless mode
  1. Install Psychonauts Widescreen Fix.
  2. Go to <path-to-game>.
  3. Create a new file named wndmode.ini.
  4. Launch the game.
  5. Exit the game.
  6. Edit created file named wndmode.ini.
  7. Set UseBackgroundResize = 1.

High frame rate

Frame rates above 120 may significantly affect physics; doors may open slower, trampolines are less effective, and Raz may not grab onto poles or dismount ladders without issue.[5][6] Capping framerate can help issues.
Limit the Framerate to 60FPS[citation needed]
Enable Vsync in the graphics options and set refresh rate on 60 Hz

Input

In-game key map settings.
In-game key map settings.
In-game general control settings.
In-game general control settings.
In-game camera settings.
In-game camera settings.

Haptic feedback

Set controller vibration[citation needed]
  1. Launch the game and create a profile if not done already.
  2. Go to <path-to-game>\Profiles\.
  3. Go into the appropriate Profile # folder.
  4. Open the .ini file with a text editor.
  5. Change EnableRumble=false to EnableRumble=true.
  6. Save the changes.

Notes

Enabled by default since the latest patch.

Dualshock 4 Button Prompts mod

Replaces all (Xbox) input prompts with Dualshock 4 prompts without requiring a separate texture injection program.
Only the face button prompts are stylized to match how the original prompts were, the rest are standard DS4 prompts.

Audio

In-game audio settings.
In-game audio settings.

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Remove OPENAL32.DLL in game folder; otherwise, it's 2.0 stereo.[citation needed] HRTF with OpenAL Soft library.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Game pauses on focus lost.
EAX support
Change UseEAX to true in AudioSettings.ini.

HRTF

May cause crashes during certain boss fights. Revert file for the fight and then restore after completion.
Use OpenAL Soft
  1. Download the OpenAL Soft binary from here.
  2. Open the downloaded zip file and extract soft_oal.dll from openal-soft-<version>-bin.zip\openal-soft-<version>-bin\bin\Win32.
  3. Rename soft_oal.dll to OpenAL32.dll.
  4. Replace the OPENAL32.dll in <path-to-game> with the extracted dll.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
German
Italian
Fan translation, download.
Polish
Fan translation, download.
Brazilian Portuguese
Fan translation, download.
Russian
Local retail release only. Patch for digital release here.
Spanish
Fan translation by Clan Dlan, download (Patch 1.04 needed for retail).

VR support

3D modes State Notes
vorpX
G3D
Officially supported game, see official vorpx game list.

Issues unresolved

Smart camera option does not work

  • The smart (automatic) camera stays on, even if it's disabled in the game options or through the game's configuration files.[7]

Thermometer bar in wrong location

  • When using resolutions above 640x480, the 'thermometer' bar for Pyrokinesis will be displayed at the wrong location - likely offscreen at higher resolutions - rather than above the targeted object/creature. There are no known fixes to this bug.

Linux version differences

  • Mouse movement in this game feels entirely different from Windows (no zigzags, smoother; Likely no mouse acceleration).

Fullscreen issues

  • Fullscreen settings may require the player to disable and enable fullscreen in-game each time the game runs.[citation needed] The Borderless Windowed method may workaround this.

Issues fixed

Cannot interact with main menu; Raz T-poses

Rasputin T-poses in the main menu while walking on the brain. The player cannot interact with menu buttons, and jumping causes his character to fly up indefinitely.
Install game to the C Drive[8]
Set compatibility mode to Windows 95[9]

Game uses incorrect refresh rate

The game may default to the lowest supported refresh rate of the monitor.
Override refresh rate with dgVoodoo
  1. Download the latest release of dgVoodoo 2.
  2. Extract MS\x86\D3D9.dll, dgVoodoo.conf, and dgVoodooCpl.exe to <path-to-game>.
  3. Open dgVoodooCpl.exe, and enable Enumerate refresh rates.
  4. In the DirectX tab, use the resolution selector combo box to set the desired hertz.
  5. Disable dgVoodoo Watermark to turn off the dgVoodoo logo during rendering.
Override refresh rate with D3Dx
  1. Download D3Dx by Chiri.
  2. Extract d3d9.dll and d3dx.ini to <path-to-game>.
  3. Open d3dx.ini.
  4. Change refresh_rate=60 to the desired frequency; e.g. refresh_rate=120.

Object flickering on AMD hardware

All AMD drivers after moving from Catalyst to Crimson (16.1) cause objects to flicker constantly, rendering the game almost unplayable.
Modify Game's Crimson Profile[citation needed]
  1. Right-click on the desktop and click "AMD Radeon Settings".
  2. Under the Gaming tab, find or create Psychonauts' profile.
  3. Change the anti-aliasing method of Psychonauts to "Adaptive Multisampling" and apply.

Crashing

Use compatibility mode[10]
  1. Run the game in compatibility mode for Windows 95.
  2. If the game still crashes then run the game in compatibility mode for Windows 98/ME instead.

Notes

This may still cause the game to crash if using ReShade.
Despite not having an actual profile with the program, using RTSS while simultaneously running Psychonauts can cause crashing after the first introductory cutscene of the game.
Exit Rivatuner Statistics Server[citation needed]
Disable various in-game overlays[11]
  • Disable any in-game overlays for the game, such as the Steam overlay, GOG Galaxy's overlay, etc.

Crash with 0xc0000005 error message

May be caused by a corrupted/damaged game profile.
Delete save game profile[citation needed]
  1. Delete or move the affected profile under <path-to-game>\Profiles\Profile #.
  2. Start the game and create a new profile.
Copy save game files to a new profile[citation needed]
  1. Start the game and create a new profile.
  2. Copy all save files from the old profile and paste them into the new one (if saves still do not appear or the test profile shows as damaged then copy and paste one save file at a time to ensure any data is still left).

Notes

Only the autosave and first save seem to carry over.

Crash when loading certain cutscenes

On Linux, the loading of certain cutscenes might cause the game to crash.
The error happens when the language is changed from English to German, for example.
Change the language to English[12]

Notes

Game cannot be played with another language other than English.
Delete <path-to-game>/Psychonauts/game/Psychonauts.ini (GOG.com version)
The actual problem is related to the game not finding cutscene movie files by file name. Actually, the game tries to dynamically translate file names such that they fit the file names as stored on disk. This is necessary because Windows ignores character case for file name matching (so the game was programmed using lower case filename references) but on Linux, filenames are case sensitive. Apparently, this translation process fails in other languages sometimes but only for some cutscenes.
Provide every cutscene file with lower case file names[13]
  1. Copy all cutscene movie files as hardlink (i.e. some sort of second equivalent name for the same file) whose name is the same but only with lower case characters.
  2. In a bash console, enter these commands to create all the hardlinks automatically (instead of manually with potential errors) and replace ${GameLocation} with the directory path to the "Psychonauts" game directory:
  3. cd ${GameLocation}/game/WorkResource/cutscenes/prerendered/
      for cutsceneFile in ./*; do cp -l "${cutsceneFile}" "${cutsceneFile,,}";
  4. The command above will create a 2nd name with only lower case characters for every file in the folder where cutscenes are stored (they won't occupy twice the amount of disk space). Now, cutscenes should play in the language chosen.

Graphics error preventing startup

The error is the following: "The game was unable to find a 32bpp display mode supported by your system in which to run. Your video card and monitor must minimally support 640x480x32bpp.".
Create displaysettings.ini[citation needed]
  1. Create a file named displaysettings.ini inside <path-to-game>.
  2. Insert the following into said file:
  3. [DisplaySettings]
    ScreenWidth=640
    ScreenHeight=480
    FullScreen=true
    VSync=true
    FSAA=true
    FSFX=true
    AdvancedShading=true
    Shadows=true
    GammaCorrection=1.000000
  4. Change ScreenWidth and ScreenHeight to the desired display resolution.

Windows 8.1/10 black screen on startup / Freezes loading screen

Use compatibility mode[citation needed]

Camera spins when using controller (Linux)

The Linux version's default gamepad controls may result in the camera rotating constantly with no user input, due to camera rotation being mapped to axes associated with analog triggers such that camera rotation stops only when the triggers are pushed half-way (This also makes it difficult to remap controls using the in-game menu, as unpushed triggers are interpreted as inputs).
Edit configuration file[14]
  1. Open the settings file associated with the chosen profile ($XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile 1/Profile 1- Raz.ini. If there is a single profile with the default name, the name is $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile */Profile *.ini).
  2. Find these lines:
  3. LookUp_Alt=JoyRotZ
    LookDown_Alt=JoyRotZ
    LookLeft_Alt=JoyZ
    LookRight_Alt=JoyZ
  4. Change them to:
  5. LookUp_Alt=JoyRotY
    LookDown_Alt=JoyRotY
    LookLeft_Alt=JoyRotX
    LookRight_Alt=JoyRotX
    

Notes

This won't fix the fact that unpushed triggers are interpreted as inputs by the in-game input mapping menu, so editing this file may also be the easiest way to remap other gamepad inputs. Alternatively, one can keep both triggers pushed half-way while assigning inputs in-game.
Another instance of this problem occurs with specific drivers (e.g. "eGalax Inc. SHIFT13mi-Touch") on GNU/Linux which use /dev/input/js0 for integrated touch functionality on the keyboard and which leads to automatic spinning of the camera and menu cursor movement.
Confine the application so it doesn't use the problematic gamepad device[15]
  1. Install firejail on theoperating system (e.g. using a package manager).
  2. Configure the game launcher to wrap the game executable in a wrapper command. Use firejail as command and --noprofile --blacklist="/dev/input/js0" as arguments.

Notes

The gamepad device file name /dev/input/js0 could be specific to the computer model. If the game executable needs to be mentioned in the arguments, then put it after all the other arguments (separated with space).
Now, when started, the game will be playable without controls issues and the mouse functionality can still be used like normal.

Mouse/keyboard input prompts when using controller (Linux)

The Linux version of the game will persistently show mouse and keyboard input prompts (e.g. space bar to proceed from the title screen) even when using a controller.
Unmap mouse/keyboard inputs
  • Mouse and keyboard inputs can be unmapped by editing $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile */Profile *.ini. Starting from default settings, in which the [Input] section's gamepad inputs are mapped to actions ending in _Alt, mouse and keyboard inputs can be unmapped by deleting everything after = for actions not ending in _Alt:
[Input]
MoveForward=
MoveBackward=
MoveLeft=
MoveRight=
Jump=
Attack=
Use=
Cancel=
LockOn/Float=
PsiPower1=
PsiPower2=
PsiPower3=
InventoryMenu=
PsiPowersMenu=
FirstPerson=
Journal=
Stats=
LookUp=
LookDown=
LookLeft=
LookRight=

Notes

This will disable mouse/keyboard controls for these actions, so that the game requires a controller.

Generic controller button icons (Linux)

The Linux version of the game may display generic button icons (buttons 1, 2, etc.) even when using an Xbox-style controller (with buttons A, B, etc.).
Edit icon preferences file
  1. Open <path-to-game>/WorkResource/Textures/Icons/UI_Icons/IconPrefsPC.ini.
    • Some lines define icons used for Xbox-style buttons, e.g.:
      AButton, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_buttonA.tga
    • Meanwhile, other lines define icons used for generic gamepad buttons, e.g.:
      Joy1, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy1.tga
  2. Generic button icons can be replaced with Xbox-style button icons by modifying the Joy* lines, e.g. changing the following lines:
    Joy1, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy1.tga
    Joy2, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy2.tga
    Joy3, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy3.tga
    Joy4, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy4.tga
    Joy5, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy5.tga
    Joy6, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy6.tga
    Joy7, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy7.tga
    Joy8, WorkResource\Textures\icons\PC_Icons\Joy8.tga
    
    to:
    Joy1, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_buttonA.tga
    Joy2, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_buttonB.tga
    Joy3, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_buttonX.tga
    Joy4, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_buttonY.tga
    Joy5, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_FlipperLeft01.tga
    Joy6, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_FlipperRight01.tga
    Joy7, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_buttonBack.tga
    Joy8, WorkResource\Textures\icons\UI_Icons\UI_buttonStart.tga
    
    or similar depending on numbering of buttons for the gamepad in use.
  3. If the above example gives the correct mapping of icons to physical buttons, then one may want to edit the input mapping in the profile settings file ($XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile */Profile *.ini) so that the A/B/X/Y face buttons match the Xbox version's default controls:
    Jump_Alt=Joy1
    Attack_Alt=Joy3
    Use_Alt=Joy4
    Cancel_Alt=Joy2

Notes

These *.tga not corresponding to actual files on disk is normal. However, actual files on disk can be referenced here. Thus one can also use custom icons by converting images to 64x64 TGA format, placing them somewhere under <path-to-game>/WorkResource/, and referencing them in <path-to-game>/WorkResource/Textures/Icons/UI_Icons/IconPrefsPC.ini with paths relative to <path-to-game>. However, the Xbox-style button icons are built into the game.

Steam Cloud not working (Linux)

For the game's native Linux version, Steam Cloud is configured incorrectly. It looks for save files at <path-to-game>/profiles/profile 1/* (etc.)[16] but they are located at $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles/Profile 1/* (etc.).
Set $XDG_DATA_HOME variable
  • Use the launch options to set the environment variable XDG_DATA_HOME to the parent folder of <path-to-game>, so that $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts is <path-to-game>.
    • Assuming <path-to-game> is ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Psychonauts:
      XDG_DATA_HOME=~/.steam/root/steamapps/common %command%
Link folder used by game to folder used by Steam Cloud

If the saves one wants to keep are the ones from Steam Cloud:

  1. Remove or rename $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles (if it exists).
  2. Create a symbolic link from $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles to <path-to-game>/profiles.
    • Assuming <path-to-game> is ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Psychonauts:
      ln -sv ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Psychonauts/profiles ${XDG_DATA_HOME:-~/.local/share}/Psychonauts/Profiles
Link folder used by Steam Cloud to folder used by game

If the saves one wants to keep are the ones created locally by the Linux version of the game:

  1. Remove or rename <path-to-game>/profiles (if it exists).
  2. Optional: Back up $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles manually, in case Steam Cloud decides to replace these saves with whatever is in the cloud instead of uploading them.
  3. Create a symbolic link from <path-to-game>/profiles to $XDG_DATA_HOME/Psychonauts/Profiles.
    • Assuming <path-to-game> is ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Psychonauts:
      ln -sv ${XDG_DATA_HOME:-~/.local/share}/Psychonauts/Profiles ~/.steam/root/steamapps/common/Psychonauts/profiles

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9.0c
OpenGL 2.0 OS X and Linux only.
Shader Model support 2
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)
[17] Two versions exist: the Cider version released in 2011 by TransGaming Inc, which is a Wine wrapper in an app; and the 2013 native version by Ryan C. Gordon.
Most digital outlets post-2015 sell the native version, but not all.[citation needed]
Linux

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Audio OpenAL
Cutscenes Bink Video

2021 HD AI Upscale and Cutscenes

Upscales the UI textures for HD.
Upscales the FMVs to 1080p or 4K, increasing the file size by 5 GB or 26 GB respectively.[18]
Requires the widescreen patch in general while the texture portion is handled by uMod.
While the dialog portraits were originally just renders of the ingame models, this mod upscales them to look more painterly.
Features an optional texture pack for replacing Xbox Prompts with PlayStation ones.
Said PlayStation Prompts pack only replaces the face buttons, for a more complete (but lower resolution) option, see Dualshock 4 Button Prompts mod.
The 1080p and 4K AI upscaled Lungfishopolis intro cutscene accidentally lacks audio. Fixed 1080p video clip is available on nexusmods website.[19]

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98 SE, ME
Processor (CPU) Intel Pentium III 1.0 GHz
AMD Athlon 1.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 256 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 4 GB
3.75 GB (Steam)
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 3
ATI Radeon 8500
64 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
Sound (audio device) DirectX 9.0 compatible
Other GeForce 4 MX and Go series GPUs not compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 10.6.8
Processor (CPU) Intel Core Duo
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 4 GB
Video card (GPU) ATI Radeon X1600
Nvidia GeForce 8600GT
Intel HD 3000
128 MB of VRAM
Linux
Minimum
Operating system (OS)
Processor (CPU) 2.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 4 GB
Video card (GPU) 128 MB of VRAM
OpenGL 2.1 compatible


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 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).

References