Risen

Risen
Developers

	Piranha Bytes
Publishers
2009-2020	Deep Silver
2020-present	THQ Nordic
Release dates
Windows	October 2, 2009
Reception
Metacritic	77
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Modes	Singleplayer
Pacing	Real-time
Perspectives	Third-person
Controls	Direct control
Genres	RPG, ARPG
Themes	Fantasy
Series	Risen

Risen
Risen	2009
Risen 2: Dark Waters	2012
Risen 3: Titan Lords	2014

Contents 1 Availability 2 Essential improvements 2.1 Patches 2.2 Skip intro videos 3 Game data 3.1 Configuration file(s) location 3.2 Save game data location 3.3 Save game cloud syncing 4 Video 4.1 Better graphics 4.2 Widescreen resolution 4.3 Windowed 4.4 Anti-aliasing (AA) 5 Input 5.1 Mouse sensitivity 6 Audio 6.1 Localizations 7 Issues fixed 7.1 "The program cannot start because PhysXLoader.dll is missing from your computer" error at launch 7.2 "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect" error at launch 8 VR support 9 Other information 9.1 API 9.2 Middleware 10 System requirements 11 Notes 12 References

General information

GOG.com Community Discussions for game series

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		TAGES Solidshield DRM disc check; use Patch 1.11 Final to remove.
GamersGate

GOG.com
Humble Store
Steam		Not available in Australia and New Zealand.^[1]

Essential improvements

Patches

Patch 1.11 Final fixes various issues and removes copy protection.

The Risen Unofficial patch fixes a number of minor issues with gameplay, localisation, quests and dialog that were not addressed in the official patches. Works on official patch versions 1.10 and 1.11.

FPS and aspect ratio fix UI fix for ultra wide monitors, a frame limiter that prevents bugs with falling, updated in 2023.

Skip intro videos

Remove intro videos from playlist^{[citation needed]}
Go to `<path-to-game>\data\extern\videos\` Open `logo.ini`. Delete all of its contents. Save the file.

Game data

General options, including subtitles and mouse Y-axis inversion

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%LOCALAPPDATA%\Risen\ConfigUser.xml <path-to-game>\data\ini\ConfigDefault.xml^{[Note 1]}
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/40300/pfx/^{[Note 2]}

ConfigUser.xml overrides ConfigDefault.xml; make changes in ConfigUser.xml unless otherwise noted.

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\Risen\SaveGames %LOCALAPPDATA%\Risen\achievements.bin
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/40300/pfx/^{[Note 2]}

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
GOG Galaxy		Added with the 2023 patch.
Steam Cloud		Added with the 2023 patch.

Video

Video settings

Performance settings

Graphics feature	WSGF	Notes
Widescreen resolution		See Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor		See Widescreen resolution.
Ultra-widescreen		See Widescreen resolution.
4K Ultra HD		Native 3840x2160 support. Can go higher in `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Risen\ConfigUser.xml`
Field of view (FOV)	60° – 100°. FOV can be changed in-game after 2023 patch.
Windowed	See Windowed.
Borderless fullscreen windowed	See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
Anti-aliasing (AA)	Nvidia users can force SGSSAA. See Anti-aliasing (AA).
Vertical sync (Vsync)	Added with the 2023 patch.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS	No frame rate or refresh rate cap.^[2]
High dynamic range display (HDR)	See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Better graphics

Quality can be further improved (e.g. higher draw distance) by editing config files.^[3]^[4]

Widescreen resolution

Aspect ratio is fully correct for 16:9 only. 16:10 resolutions are listed in-game but have some UI elements slightly squashed.

Fix aspect ratio^[5]
Go to `<path-to-game>\data\ini` Edit `ConfigDefault.xml` Under `Aspect16x9` change `VirtalWidth=` to match the equivalent of your aspect ratio for a height of 768 pixels (e.g. use `1228` for 16:10). Go to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Risen` Edit `ConfigUser.xml` Change `Bottom=` to the resolution's full height (not the scaled height set before). Change `Right=` to the resolution's full width. Notes The sizing of the HUD, fonts, and inventory/map/journal screens can be changed by adjusting the values for both VirtalWidth= and VirtalHeight= (use values that still equal a correct aspect ratio for the resolution you are using). Non-default settings will cause some minor positioning issues.

Fix aspect ratio^[5]

Go to <path-to-game>\data\ini
Edit ConfigDefault.xml
Under Aspect16x9 change VirtalWidth= to match the equivalent of your aspect ratio for a height of 768 pixels (e.g. use 1228 for 16:10).
Go to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Risen
Edit ConfigUser.xml
Change Bottom= to the resolution's full height (not the scaled height set before).
Change Right= to the resolution's full width.

Notes

The sizing of the HUD, fonts, and inventory/map/journal screens can be changed by adjusting the values for both VirtalWidth= and VirtalHeight= (use values that still equal a correct aspect ratio for the resolution you are using). Non-default settings will cause some minor positioning issues.

Windowed

Enable windowed mode in config file^{[citation needed]}
Go to `<path-to-game>\data\ini` Edit `ConfigDefault.xml`. Change `FullScreen="true"` to `FullScreen="false"` Notes Desktop cursor will appear in-game.

Enable windowed mode in config file^{[citation needed]}

Go to <path-to-game>\data\ini
Edit ConfigDefault.xml.
Change FullScreen="true" to FullScreen="false"

Notes

Desktop cursor will appear in-game.

Anti-aliasing (AA)

SGSSAA (Nvidia only)^{[citation needed]}
Open Risen driver profile via Nvidia Profile Inspector. Change `Antialiasing compatibility` to `0x000002C1`^[6] Change `Antialiasing - Mode` to `Override any application setting`. Change `Antialiasing - Setting` to `4x [4x Multisampling]` or `8xQ [8x Multisampling]`. Change `Antialiasing - Transparency Supersampling` to `4x Sparse Grid Supersampling` or `8x Sparse Grid Supersampling`. This should match your Multisampling selection. Apply changes. Set `Depth of field` to Off in the games video settings Notes High quality anti-aliasing. Performance demanding.

SGSSAA (Nvidia only)^{[citation needed]}

Open Risen driver profile via Nvidia Profile Inspector.
Change Antialiasing compatibility to 0x000002C1^[6]
Change Antialiasing - Mode to Override any application setting.
Change Antialiasing - Setting to 4x [4x Multisampling] or 8xQ [8x Multisampling].
Change Antialiasing - Transparency Supersampling to 4x Sparse Grid Supersampling or 8x Sparse Grid Supersampling. This should match your Multisampling selection.
Apply changes.
Set Depth of field to Off in the games video settings

Notes

High quality anti-aliasing.

Performance demanding.

Input

Key rebinding menu

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping		Quicksave, quickload and some other keys are locked in the binds menu. Can be edited in ConfigUser.xml.
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity		See Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion		Under Game settings.
Controller
Controller support
Full controller support
Controller remapping		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers
Xbox button prompts
Impulse Trigger vibration

DualShock 4 controllers		See the glossary page for potential workarounds.

Generic/other controllers

Additional information
Controller hotplugging
Haptic feedback
Simultaneous controller+KB/M

Mouse sensitivity

Change sensitivity in config file^{[citation needed]}
Go to `<path-to-game>\data\ini` Edit `ConfigDefault.xml` Find `SensitivityX="0.5f"` and change 0.5 to a value of your choosing for X-axis sensitivity. Do the same for `SensitivityY="0.5f"` for the Y-axis sensitivity. Does not affect mouse sensitivity in menus; only affects mouse-look speed during gameplay. Recommended values are -0.29 for X axis and 0.1 for Y axis. If the negative value for the X axis is below a certain number the axis gets reversed.

Change sensitivity in config file^{[citation needed]}

Go to <path-to-game>\data\ini
Edit ConfigDefault.xml
Find SensitivityX="0.5f" and change 0.5 to a value of your choosing for X-axis sensitivity.
Do the same for SensitivityY="0.5f" for the Y-axis sensitivity.

Does not affect mouse sensitivity in menus; only affects mouse-look speed during gameplay.

Recommended values are -0.29 for X axis and 0.1 for Y axis. If the negative value for the X axis is below a certain number the axis gets reversed.

Audio

Audio settings

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls		Music, voice, effects, ambient and master volume.
Surround sound
Subtitles		Under Game settings.
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Russian
French
German
Italian
Polish
Brazilian Portuguese				Fan translation; download. Guide (Steam).
Russian
Spanish
Turkish				Fan translation. Details missing—please edit this page and add it.

Issues fixed

"The program cannot start because PhysXLoader.dll is missing from your computer" error at launch

Install PhysX^{[citation needed]}
Install the NVIDIA PhysX System Software.

"The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect" error at launch

Install Visual C++ 2005 (x86)^[7]
Install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86). The above link appears to be broken now, try this link instead (restart computer after installing to take effect): Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update.

Install Visual C++ 2005 (x86)^[7]

Install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86).

The above link appears to be broken now, try this link instead (restart computer after installing to take effect): Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update.

VR support

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

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	9.0c
Shader Model support	3.0

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	Notes
Windows			64-bit support added with the 2023 patch.

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Physics	PhysX
Audio	FMOD	4.24.0
Cutscenes	Bink Video	1.8i

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	XP SP3	Vista
Processor (CPU)	2.0 GHz	3.0 GHz Dual Core
System memory (RAM)	1 GB	2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	2.5 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce 7900 ATI Radeon X1800 256 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible Shader model 3.0 support	Nvidia GeForce 8800 ATI Radeon HD 2900 512 MB of VRAM
Sound (audio device)	DirectX 9.0c compatible

Notes

↑ 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).
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/40300/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (40300) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

Availability

Essential improvements

Patches

Skip intro videos

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

Save game data location

Save game cloud syncing

Video

Better graphics

Widescreen resolution

Windowed

Anti-aliasing (AA)

Input

Mouse sensitivity

Audio

Localizations

Issues fixed

"The program cannot start because PhysXLoader.dll is missing from your computer" error at launch

"The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect" error at launch

VR support

Other information

API

Middleware

System requirements

Notes

References