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Freelancer

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Freelancer
Freelancer cover
Developers
Digital Anvil
Publishers
Microsoft Game Studios
Release dates
Windows March 4, 2003
Reception
Metacritic 85
Taxonomy
Monetization One-time game purchase
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives First-person, Third-person
Controls Direct control
Genres Action, Open world, Simulation
Vehicles Space flight
Art styles Stylized
Themes Sci-fi, Space
Freelancer on HowLongToBeat
Freelancer on IGDB
Freelancer guide on StrategyWiki
Freelancer on MobyGames
Freelancer on Wikipedia

Warnings

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).

Freelancer is a singleplayer/multiplayer open world space simulation game where the player flies around in spacecraft as a freelancer engaging in bounty hunting, piracy, trading, or all three at once. The world takes place in the Sirius Sector which spans across 48 star systems containing planets, space stations, and NPCs to interact with. Singleplayer puts the player in the shoes of Edison Trent who goes through a multitude of missions to solve a sector wide conspiracy he is unintentionally dragged into. Multiplayer skips the storyline and immediately unlocks all of the Sirius Sector for the player to explore where they can cooperate with or oppose other players. It was created by Digital Anvil and is a chronological successor to the game StarLancer.

Freelancer was first officially announced in late 1997[1] with a release date sometime in the fall of 2000.[2] Due to delays the project suffered and the need for more capital,[3] Freelancer wouldn't officially release until March 4, 2003[4] under the guidance of Microsoft Game Studios who bought Digital Anvil at the end of 2000.[5] After release, Digital Anvil's one and only update to the game was the official v1.1 patch released on June 6, 2003 to fix server stability and correct cheating exploits.[6]

Microsoft officially stopped supporting the game on April 8, 2008 which included the shutdown of the global list server, a dedicated service that provided a listing of available multiplayer servers and a means for players to connect to them.[7] However, due to the efforts of the community, a workaround was created to replace the now defunct Microsoft global list server, enabling current and future players the ability to use the in-game multiplayer connection manager.[8] Even with the lack of official support from Microsoft, the Freelancer community continues to maintain a sizeable presence on The Starport web forum, multiple Discord servers, game servers, and modding teams.

General information

The Starport - The main Freelancer community web forum
Freelancer Galactic Community - The main Freelancer community Discord server
Freelancer Wiki

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
SafeDisc v2.7 DRM[Note 1].
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
Freelancer is currently unavailable as a digital release.

Essential improvements

Patches

Update v1.1 is an official patch that primarily affects server stability for multi-player and is not necessary for single player. It does not address any graphics or sound issues mentioned below.
Jason's Freelancer Patch v1.25 is a community made patch that provides many improvements, some new features, and widescreen support while maintaining compatibility with vanilla servers.

Modifications

  • Freelancer: HD Edition is a mod that aims to improve every aspect of Freelancer while keeping the look and feel as close to vanilla as possible. Includes both the official patch, community patch, and widescreen fixes. Singleplayer and multiplayer, vanilla server compatible. Unknown compatibility with current mods.
  • Discovery Freelancer expands on the original Freelancer storyline by rebalancing the game to, as close as possible, suit a Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing experience, adding many new technical features and game content, as well as developments in existing story arcs and lore. Multiplayer only, not compatible with other mods.
  • Crossfire is one of the largest and most complex Freelancer modification available. It builds and extends the Freelancer universe in both gameplay and story while pushing the boundaries of what's possible through modding the game. Singleplayer and Multiplayer, not compatible with other mods.
  • Freelancer: The Nomad Legacy is a mod that is set in an alterate universe to the base game with a new story to tell. It aims to push the technological boundaries of what the game engine can do. Releasing, work in progress.
  • LibreLancer is a cross-platform, open source game engine re-implementing the 2003 space trading and combat game Freelancer. Releasing, work in progress.

Utilities

  • Freelancer Mod Manager v1.5 is a program that simplifies installing and managing mods for the game. Mods compatible with this program have file extension *.flmod.
  • FLStat parses the game files to build a database to show stats on bases, factions, weapons, and ships all within a clean and easy to use GUI.
  • Freelancer Companion is a tool that helps players quickly find the best profitable and shortest trade routes, showing them on the map with precise timing.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Freelancer\PerfOptions.ini
<path-to-game>\DATA\[Note 2]

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Freelancer\Accts

Video

Video settings.
Video settings.

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
See Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen
4K Ultra HD
Field of view (FOV)
See Widescreen resolution.
Windowed
Launch the game with -win parameter.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Launch the game with -win parameter, then use Borderless Gaming.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
High-fidelity upscaling
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
High dynamic range display (HDR)

Widescreen resolution

If you want to play Freelancer in widescreen you'll either have to edit several INI files or use a third party mod or patch. Below are instructions for installing Jason's Freelancer Patch as well as manual ini edits if you'd rather go that route.

Jason's Freelancer Patch[citation needed]

If you only plan on playing singleplayer Jasons Freelancer patch is a good option. You'll only need to download a file, put it in the right place and make a small edit to another file and you will have the best widescreen support you can get in Freelancer.

If you plan on playing any multiplayer it is recommended that you do not use this option as it might be detected as cheating. Instead you should go for the INI editing option described further down. Do note that some of the servers that are still around use special mods, some of these mods include their own widescreen support.

  1. Download JFLP.DLL.
  2. Extract to the EXE folder within the game's install folder.
  3. Open dacom.ini within the EXE folder.
  4. Add 'jflp.dll' at the bottom of the '[Libraries]' section (under '.\flmaterials.dll') and save.

You're done. Your install of Freelancer now supports widescreen resolutions. Start the game and select one in the options menu. Be sure to restart the game after changing from a 4:3 resolution to a Widescreen.

Edit Ini files[11]
  • Open %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Freelancer\PerfOptions.ini
  • At the bottom it will say [Display] and underneath size= change it to 1920, 1080 (or whatever resolution you want to use). Notice the space in between the 1920, 1080.
  • Now save and exit.
  • Go to <path-to-game>\DATA. Once there open cameras.ini in text editor.
  • Delete whats there and paste the following:
[WinCamera]
fovx = 68.88

[CockpitCamera]
fovx = 70
znear = 2.000000

[ChaseCamera]
fovx = 70

[DeathCamera]
fovx = 70

If you have a 16:10 screen use the following instead:

[WinCamera]
fovx = 63.50

[CockpitCamera]
fovx = 70
znear = 2.000000

[ChaseCamera]
fovx = 70

[DeathCamera]
fovx = 70
  • Save and exit.
  • Go to <path-to-game>\EXE. Once there open freelancer.ini in text editor.
  • At about the 9th line down it says the resolution you're currently using for a game. Change it to size = 1920,1080 or what ever resolution you want.
  • Note: To disable startup movies, in this same file go to where it says [Startup] and put a ; at the start of all three lines that begins with movie_file. Example: ;movie_file = movies\MGS_Logo_Final.wmv
  • Now save and exit.
  • Go to <path-to-game>\DATA\FONTS. Once there open fonts.ini in text editor.
  • Delete all the content of a file and paste the following:
[trueType]
nickname = ButtonText
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.038500

[trueType]
nickname = PageHeader
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.041000

[trueType]
nickname = SubHeader
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.034500

[trueType]
nickname = ItemName
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.021000

[trueType]
nickname = ListText
font = Arial Unicode MS
fixed_height = 0.026000

[trueType]
nickname = ToolTip
font = Arial Unicode MS
fixed_height = 0.026000

[trueType]
nickname = Rollover
font = Arial Unicode MS
fixed_height = 0.022000

[trueType]
nickname = HudSmall
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.026000

[trueType]
nickname = MissionObjective
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.056000

[trueType]
nickname = Normal
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.031000

[trueType]
nickname = NewsMission
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.026000

[trueType]
nickname = NewsTicker
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.041000

[trueType]
nickname = PlayerName
font = Arial Unicode MS
fixed_height = 0.021000

[trueType]
nickname = TradePlayerName
font = Arial Unicode MS
fixed_height = 0.021000

[trueType]
nickname = DebugText
font = FixedSys
fixed_height = 0.026000

[trueType]
nickname = ConfirmPlayerText
font = Arial Unicode MS
fixed_height = 0.036000

[trueType]
nickname = ConfirmText
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.036000

[trueType]
nickname = NavMap1600
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.015000

[trueType]
nickname = NavMap1024
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.020000

[trueType]
nickname = NavMap1280
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.01900

[trueType]
nickname = NavMap800
font = Agency FB
fixed_height = 0.02300
  • Save and exit.
  • In the same folder open rich_fonts.ini in text editor.
  • Delete all the content of a file and paste the following:
[trueType]
font = 0, Arial Unicode MS, 18
font = 1, Agency FB, 26
font = 2, Arial Unicode MS, 22
font = 3, Agency FB, 24
font = 4, Agency FB, 96
font = 5, Agency FB, 20
font = 6, Agency FB, 30
font = 7, Agency FB, 18

[Style]
name = STYLE_CONSOLE
font = 0
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 255, 255, 255

[Style]
name = STYLE_DIALOG
font = 1
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224

[Style]
name = STYLE_DIALOG_SMALL
font = 5
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224

[Style]
name = STYLE_BUTTON
font = 6
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224

[Style]
name = STYLE_LOCTABLE
font = 0
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224

[Style]
name = STYLE_LOCTABLE_SELECT
font = 0
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 245, 234, 82

[Style]
name = STYLE_LOCTABLE_INACTIVE
font = 0
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 182, 182, 182

[Style]
name = STYLE_SMALL_HEADER
font = 5
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224

[Style]
name = STYLE_SMALL_HEADER_ACTIVE
font = 5
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 245, 234, 82

[Style]
name = STYLE_SUBSUBTITLE
font = 1
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224

[Style]
name = STYLE_TITLE
font = 3
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224
justify = center

[Style]
name = STYLE_ERROR
font = 0
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 191, 29, 29

[Style]
name = STYLE_NN_AGENCY
font = 5
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 135, 195, 224

[Style]
name = STYLE_PRIVATE
font = 0
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 59, 191, 29

[Style]
name = STYLE_CONSOLE_SENDER
font = 2
bold = false
italic = false
underline = false
color = 0, 255, 0
  • Save and exit.
  • Now you are all done and ready to play in 1920×1080.

Notes

The camera FOV changes for widescreen play might not be applied properly when you first launch and load an existing game causing the UI to be outside the screen. As a workaround, after the launching the game press New Game, once the New Game cutscene starts press F1 and load your game from there. The FOV settings seem to be applied properly as soon as a space scene is played, like the one at the start of the New Game cutscene.
It seem that many UI elements have their width set in percentage of screen width. With the above INI edits the game will play just fine in widescreen but some UI elements might not fit inside their containers such as the power, shield and hull indicators, and the news ticker.

Input

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
With 3D sound option on.
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
German
Sound, Text
Russian
Fan translation by users forum «Elite-Games.ru»
Spanish
Fan translation by Clan Dlan, download. Cinematic subtitles (authors: L@Zar0, darkpadawan) Subtitles mod.

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
LAN play
128 Incompatible with Ipv6.[12]
Online play
128 Official servers are offline; use replacement Freelancer listserver.

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Dedicated
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
UDP 2302
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

VR support

3D modes State Notes
vorpX
G3D
Included in DGVoodoo2 Default Profile.
Note: Profile may not work with the latest wrapper, in case of issues please report to the vorpx forum.

Issues unresolved

Compatibility problems on modern operating systems

Two primary issues when running on modern systems:

Graphics issues resulting in a black screen or general crashes.[citation needed]
There can be sound issues causing voices or music to temporarily be muted.[citation needed]

Issues fixed

It is sometimes necessary to start a new game, delete all your saved games or reinstall Freelancer in order for the following fixes to be successful.

Crashes on launch

Install DirectPlay[citation needed]


Sound issues

If there is either no sound or voices or music cut in and out the following fixes may solve the problem.

  • Most sound issues can be traced to problems with the Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec. Uninstalling and reinstalling this codec as described on Microsoft's website can fix the problem. Other people have had success in both Windows 98 and Vista 32-bit by copying the l3codeca.acm file from %WINDIR%\system32\ to <path-to-game>\EXE\ and rename it to l3codecp.acm.[13]
  • Another possible fix is disabling 3-D sound in the options menu.

Video Issues

Microsoft lists several solutions for video issues.

"Freelancer Fatal Error: Freelancer did not detect a 3D capable video card in your system" error

Follow the Widescreen resolution steps to force the correct resolution.[14]

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 8
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98SE, ME, 2000, XP
Processor (CPU) 600 MHz
System memory (RAM) 128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 1.3 GB
Video card (GPU) 16 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9 compatible
Sound (audio device) DirectX 9 compatible
Other 4X CD-ROM/DVD-ROM<bn>56Kbps modem for online multiplayer
Windows NT and 95 are not supported


Notes

  1. SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[9] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[10]
  2. 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

  1. The Digital Desperado - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  2. Chris Roberts Back In the Game - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  3. PC Preview: Freelancer - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  4. Microsoft Ships Freelancer - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  5. Digital Anvil Interview - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  6. Freelancer v1.1 Patch - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  7. Microsoft Product Lifecycle - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  8. Global Server Workaround v1.0 - last accessed on 2022-04-02
  9. Not Loading in Windows 10; this will break thousands of - Microsoft Community - last accessed on 2017-01-16
  10. Microsoft - MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015 - last accessed on 2018-02-16
  11. craigmayhew.com - last accessed on May 2023
  12. How to fix Freelancer not connecting to a localhost server? - Gaming Stack Exchange
  13. pcreview.co.uk - last accessed on May 2023
  14. 3D Card issues with nVidia : freelancer - last accessed on May 2023