Template:Infobox game/row/osxporterWarnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Key points
- All Windows versions can be activated on Steam as an alternative to Games for Windows - LIVE and SecuROM.[1]
General information
- 2K Games Forum
- Steam Users' Forums - for BioShock and BioShock 2.
Availability
Template:Availability Table
- All Windows versions activate on Steam.[1]
- When not using Steam all Windows versions have SecuROM DRM and require Games for Windows - LIVE, which can be disabled.
Improvements
Activate on Steam
- All Windows retail and digital versions of BioShock 2 activate on Steam.[1]
- Activation unlocks all DLC, including Minerva's Den.
v1.5 Patch (Retail)
- The latest patch is v1.5. The Steam version already has this patch.
- The patch accidentally mutes the Little Sisters (see #No Little Sister voice acting). It may be advisable to avoid the patch because this is a significant aspect of the gameplay.
Game data
Template:Game Location Table
- Saves for the Steam version are separate and not compatible.
- Because of GFWL you must back up both your Live profile and the game saves in order to transfer or restore your saves.
- Save games generated when signed into GFWL are not compatible with saves from the GFWL disabling workaround and vice versa.
- Use BioShock 2 Saved Game Utilities to easily back up the save folders needed for BioShock 2.
Video settings
Template:Video settings
- Any custom FOV settings will be reset automatically at various times during gameplay when control is taken away from the player; i.e. for cutscenes. Zooming down iron sights will also yield this effect.
There is no native AA support in BioShock 2. AA can be forcibly enabled, however, through your graphics driver's control panel. Please consult the user guide for your particular graphics driver on how this is performed.
For Nvidia cards you can force SGSSAA (2x-8x) in DX9 Mode via Nvidia inspector with the AA bit - 0x000010C1 - [2]
Example what inspector should look like
Input settings
Template:Input Settings
Disabling auto-aim
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
Issues fixed
Hold to Duck / Hold to Aim Down Sights
Crash on startup
Left Plasmid hand disappears
- This glitch is especially likely when using the Scout-Plasmid. Therefore it is advisable to quicksave before using it.
Green Pepper Edition - no product key
- The Green Pepper Edition of Bioshock 2 does not contain a product key. Therefore it is not possible to create a Windows Live Account or add Bioshock 2 to an existing account.
Game does not start on Windows 8
- When installed on Windows 8 Pro x64, trying to run the game doesn't do anything. This is mostly like an issue with GFWL.
Crashing Windows 7 and 8
- The game will periodically crash when installed on Windows 7 or 8.
No Little Sister voice acting
- May occur after installing 1.5 Patch, which causes Little Sisters to become mute.
- Error message: Too many activations on different PCs or too many reactivations on the same PC have been performed
Performance tweaks
Havok
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
Windows XP SP2 |
Windows 7 |
Processor (CPU) |
| |
System memory (RAM) |
| |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
11 GB | |
Video card (GPU) |
NVIDIA 7800GT 256 MB ATI Radeon X1900 256 MB
| NVIDIA 8800GT 512 MB ATI Radeon HD 4830 512 MB |
References