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BioShock 2

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Template:Infobox game/row/osxporterTemplate:Infobox game/row/osxporter
BioShock 2
BioShock 2 cover
Developers
2K Marin
2K China
2K Australia
DLC Iron Galaxy Studios
Multiplayer Digital Extremes
Publishers
2K Games
OS X Feral Interactive
Engines
Unreal Engine 2.5
Release dates
Windows February 9, 2010
macOS (OS X) March 29, 2012
BioShock 2 guide on StrategyWiki
BioShock 2 on Wikipedia

Warnings

For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
BioShock
BioShock 2007
BioShock 2 2010
BioShock Infinite 2013
BioShock Remastered 2016
BioShock 2 Remastered 2016

This page is for the original version. For the remastered version, see BioShock 2 Remastered.

Key points

Steam version DRM switched from Games for Windows - LIVE and SecuROM to Steam.[1]
The Steamworks patch introduced some audio level balance issues.[2]
Ragdoll physics and animations are locked at 30 FPS.

General information

2K Games Forum
Steam Community Discussions
Steam Users' Forums for BioShock and BioShock 2

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
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Optional Steam unlock.[1]
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Windows
Gamesplanet logo.svg
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Windows
macOS (OS X)
Green Man Gaming
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Windows
macOS (OS X)
Green Man Gaming
DRM details are not known
macOS (OS X)
Humble Store
Icon overlay.png
Windows
macOS (OS X)
Steam
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Bundled with BioShock 2 Remastered
Windows
macOS (OS X)
All non-Steam Windows versions require Games for Windows - LIVE DRM.
All Windows retail and digital versions of BioShock 2 activate on Steam.[1] Activation unlocks all DLC, including Minerva's Den.

DLC and expansion packs

Name Notes
Minerva's Den
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Essential improvements

Patches

A Title Update is available for the Games for Windows - LIVE version. The game should automatically prompt for the update when using a LIVE profile; the updates can also be downloaded manually (update 1, update 2).

Fix audio balance issues

For Steamworks version only

The Steamworks patch introduced some audio balance issues, most notably gun fire is much quieter as well as other sound effects. The sound effects can be restored by downloading a modified .ini file:

Instructions

Skip intro videos

Instructions

Game data

In-game general settings.
In-game general settings.

Save game data location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row
System Location
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/8850/pfx/[Note 1]
Achievements and saves for the Steam and Games for Windows - LIVE versions are separate (a new game is required when switching versions).

Configuration file(s) location

Template:Game data/rowTemplate:Game data/row
System Location
Steam Play (Linux) <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/8850/pfx/[Note 1]

Save game cloud syncing

System Native Notes
Steam Cloud

Video settings

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

Template:Video settings

Field of view (FOV)

Custom FOV settings will not work in multiplayer.
Instructions
Instructions

Anisotropic filtering (AF)

Instructions

Anti-aliasing (AA)

MSAA can be forced through your graphics driver's control panel.
SGSSAA can be forced in DX9 mode via Nvidia inspector with the compatibility flag 0x000010C1[3] Example what inspector should look like

Ambient Occlusion (AO)

AO can be forced through your graphics driver's control panel.
HDAO+ (denominated High quality) can be forced in DX9 mode via Nvidia inspector with the compatibility flag 0x0002002D[4] Example what inspector should look like

Input settings

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

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

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

Template:Audio settings

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
German
Italian
Russian
Spanish

Network

Online features in non-Steam versions require a Microsoft account (optional for offline play).

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
LAN play
Online play
10

VR support

3D modes State GG3D Notes
Nvidia 3D Vision
Use Helix Mod: Bioshock 2 (DirectX 9 only)
TriDef 3D
Devices
3RD Space Gaming Vest

Issues unresolved

Audio Cutting Out in Combat Sequences

On some computers, user audio will cut out during combat sequences.

Mouse sensitivity not correctly adjusting

On some computers, the game's mouse sensitivity will be extremely low, and raising the values makes mouse movements imprecise.
Instructions

Issues fixed

Crash on startup

Instructions

Menu flickering

Instructions

Game brightness is extremely high in DirectX 9 mode

This behavior is triggered by notification popups from the Steam overlay
Instructions
Instructions

Left Plasmid hand disappears

This glitch is especially likely when using the Scout-Plasmid.[5] Therefore, it is advisable to quick save before using it.
Instructions

Game cannot load or save

There are damaged save files bugging up the game's ability to load or save
Instructions

Game crashes in DirectX 10 mode

Instructions
Instructions
Instructions

No little sister voice acting

Bug causes little sisters to become mute.
Instructions

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9, 10
OpenGL 2.0 OS X only.
Shader Model support 3, 4
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Physics Havok
Audio FMOD
Cutscenes Bink Video, Flash
Multiplayer Games for Windows - LIVE, Steamworks

Hold to duck/aim down sights

Instructions
Instructions

Disable auto-aim

Instructions

Disable Xbox 360 Controller vibration

Instructions

Inject EVE Hypo

Instructions

Pick individual items from containers

Instructions

Performance tweak (Havok)

Instructions
Instructions

Bypass Games for Windows - LIVE

A fake version of xlive.dll can allow you to play the single-player without having GFWL installed.
Preexisting saved games are not compatible with this fix.
Instructions

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) XP SP2
Processor (CPU) AMD Athlon 64 3800+ 2.4 GHz
Intel Pentium IV 530 3.0 GHz
System memory (RAM) 2 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 11 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT
ATI Radeon X1900
256 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
macOS (OS X)
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 10.9.5 (Mavericks)
Processor (CPU) 2 GHz
System memory (RAM) 4 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 18 GB
Video card (GPU) 256 MB of VRAM

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 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>/8850/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (8850) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References