This page is for the original version. For the remastered version, see BioShock Remastered.
Warnings
- The macOS (OS X) release of this game does not work on macOS Catalina (version 10.15) or later due to the removal of support for 32-bit-only apps.
General information
- Official Forum
- Official support knowledgebase
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
- The retail version has no activation limits.[5] An internet connection is required for installation (to download the game’s executable file). The Russian version does not require it; the game’s executable file is included.
- All digital distribution versions (except DRM-free ones) require Steam DRM.
- The PC version lacks the Challenge Rooms from the console versions.
- The Mac OS X version is no longer sold digitally.
Demo
- A demo is available from Steam. Note that the 1.1 patch is not available for the demo.
- A Mac OS X demo is available from the original website.
Monetization
Microtransactions
DLC and expansion packs
| Name |
Notes |
|
| Plasmid Pack |
Free, included with patch 1.1 |
|
Essential improvements
Skip intro videos
Launch the game with -nointro parameter[citation needed]
|
Remove physics and animation frame rate cap
- By default, physics and some animations are capped to 30 FPS.
|
Use Bioshock Physics Unlocker[6]
|
- Download Bioshock Physics Unlocker.
- Extract
BioshockPhysicsUnlocker.exe to the game's executable folder (typically located in <path-to-game>\Builds\Release).
- Open
BioshockPhysicsUnlocker.exe, type the desired frame rate, and press ↵ Enter.
|
- Allows you to change settings that are not normally adjustable from the options menu (e.g. custom resolution). Point the program at the game's configuration file location.
- The tweaker may not work on DRM-free versions of the game such as those from GOG or Humble Bundle.
- The tweaker will modify your BioShock configuration files; you should back them up before running it.
- The tweaker may add extra spaces inside your configuration files. If the game refuses to start after running the tweaker, open your configuration files and replace all instances of
` = ` with `=`.
Patches
Patch 1.1 is the latest version. Digital distribution versions are already patched.
Game data
In-game general settings.
Configuration file(s) location
Save game data location
Video
|
Instructions
|
- Disable Horizontal FOV Lock via in-game video settings.
- Open
<path-to-game>\Builds\Release\startup.ini and insert fov <value> to the first line, like this:
fov 100
[Filesystem]
|
|
Custom key binding[10]
|
- Open
%APPDATA%\Bioshock\user.ini.
- Locate the keybinds by searching for
F10=.
- From here, you can use any unassigned key to set your desired FOV or reset it to its default value.
- For example,to set the FOV to 120 using F10, change the line
F10= to F10=SetFOV 120.
To make F11 reset the FOV, change the line F11= to F11=ResetFOV.
Notes
- It's recommended to make a backup of
%APPDATA%\Bioshock\user.ini.
- The game may automatically reset your FOV upon loading or after cinematics. You may still use your custom keybinds to change the FOV to your desired value.
- The process can be automated using this tool.
|
|
Anisotropic filtering[citation needed]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
bioshock.ini.
- Find the following lines, and set them to these values:
[D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice]
LevelOfAnisotropy=16
[D3DDrv10.D3DRenderDevice10]
LevelOfAnisotropy=16
- Save the file.
|
Make HBAO work in DX9 mode
|
Use Nvidia Profile Inspector[citation needed]
|
- Use inspector as per usual (open Bioshock profile, etc.) and change flag
0x00020000 to 0x0002002D adding a "2D" at the end.
- If you get issues you could also try it with a "23" at the end instead. Also if DX10 mode gives you issues you could replace the "02" in the middle of the flag with "14".
|
Input
In-game general control settings.
In-game key map settings.
|
Instructions[citation needed]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
User.ini.
- Find the following aliases:
Aliases[2]=(Command="Axis aBaseY SpeedBase=1.0 Speed=+1200.0|HACK_TriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved|onRelease HACK_UnTriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved",Alias=MoveForward)
Aliases[3]=(Command="Axis aBaseY SpeedBase=1.0 Speed=-1200.0|HACK_TriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved|onRelease HACK_UnTriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved",Alias=MoveBackward)
Aliases[4]=(Command="Axis aStrafe SpeedBase=1.0 Speed=-1200.0|HACK_TriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved|onRelease HACK_UnTriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved",Alias=StrafeLeft)
Aliases[5]=(Command="Axis aStrafe SpeedBase=1.0 Speed=+1200.0|HACK_TriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved|onRelease HACK_UnTriggerEffectEvent PlayerMoved",Alias=StrafeRight)
- Then add
| set Engine.PlayerInput MouseAccelThreshold 0.0 | set Engine.PlayerInput MouseSmoothingMode 0 to each of them within the quotes.
Notes
- Process can be automated using BioshockMouseSensitivity tool.
|
|
Use BioShock Mouse Fix[12]
|
|
Notes
- Removes deadzone and mouse acceleration from mouse movement in both menu and gameplay.
- Adjusts the mouse sensitivity based on chosen sensitivity option in the game's setting and mouse's DPI.
|
|
Instructions[13]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
User.ini.
- Find the following lines and edit the speed values of all 10 occurrences:
MouseX=IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Count bXAxis | IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Axis aMouseX Speed=2500.0
MouseY=IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Count bYAxis | IF_MOUSE_LOOK_ENABLED Axis aMouseY Speed=2500.0
- You also need to edit the speed values for the following lines under the
[MovementOnly] header:
MouseX=Count bXAxis | Axis aMouseX Speed=2500.0
MouseY=Count bYAxis | Axis aMouseY Speed=2500.0
Notes
- Process can be automated using BioshockMouseSensitivity tool.
|
Replace toggle binds with hold binds
|
Instructions[citation needed]
|
- Go to the configuration file location.
- Open
User.ini.
- Find the Alias section and add the following:
Aliases[57]=(Command="ZoomCycle | onRelease ZoomCycle",Alias=ZoomHold)
Aliases[58]=(Command="ToggleWalk | onRelease ToggleWalk",Alias=WalkHold)
Aliases[59]=(Command="DuckKeyPressed | onRelease DuckKeyReleased | onRelease Jump",Alias=DuckHold)
- Bind each alias to a key in the following sections:
[Default]
[GathererChoice]
[ContainerUIActive]
[MovementOnly] (can skip ZoomHold)
[NoJump]
[NoMovement]
[OnlyMedHypoAndMovement] (can skip ZoomHold)
[NoPlasmids]
[EverythingExceptWeaponAndPlasmids] (can skip ZoomHold)
[InResurrectionStation]
Example: find the key you want to change, for example, zoom (Aiming Down Sights, Right Mouse Button in this case):
Rightmouse=ZoomCycle
And change it to:
Rightmouse=ZoomHold
Notes
- It is strongly recommended to make a backup of the INI file, because these tweaks can lead to some issues (see below).
- If you change any Toggle key (Zoom, Crouch, Walk), you will encounter issues like ADS reverting to Toggle or being stuck in Crouch or Walk mode. Save and reload don't fix this. Save and go back to the main menu, then load your saved game to fix the issue.
- The in-game "Customize Binding" menu will not allow rebinding any key that has been changed from Toggle to Hold using this method. This can be fixed by adding a
ReplaceableAction= for each in the sections that are relevant to them.
|
Pick individual items from containers
|
Pick individual items from containers[citation needed]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
User.ini.
- Scroll down to the
[ContainerUIActive] section and bind:
CollectContainerItemInSlot 0
CollectContainerItemInSlot 1
CollectContainerItemInSlot 2
to any unused keys. Can be bound over existing keys so long as they aren't used in the container interface (i.e. Hack and Reload). Note that, much like the hold binds, binding over other bind can make you unable to change them in the menus. The fix is to add the following ReplaceableAction to the [ContainerUIActive] section:
ReplaceableAction=CollectContainerItemInSlot 2
ReplaceableAction=CollectContainerItemInSlot 1
ReplaceableAction=CollectContainerItemInSlot 0
|
Audio
| Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
| Separate volume controls |
|
|
| Surround sound |
|
Up to 7.1[14][15] |
| Subtitles |
|
|
| Closed captions |
|
|
| Mute on focus lost |
|
|
| EAX support |
|
EAX 5[16] |
| Royalty free audio |
|
|
Localizations
VR support
Issues unresolved
- Minor spoilers ahead.
Arcadia: Langford's Safe
- In Arcadia, searching Langford's safe with the Scrounger tonic equipped will cause the safe's contents—including an essential quest item—to disappear.
Fort Frolic: Bathysphere
- In Fort Frolic, leaving the area by using the bathysphere adjacent to the entry bathysphere causes the stage curtains to close upon returning to the area, rendering the Cohen's Masterpiece quest un-completeable, and preventing the player from accessing the exit bathysphere.[17]
Fort Frolic: Rapture Records
- Attempting to kill Silas Cobb using the Hypnotize plasmid will prevent a scripted task from triggering, thus trapping the player in Rapture Records.[18] In order to fix this issue, you must kill yourself (e.g., through the use of the Incinerate! plasmid), or reload an older save.
Framerates Above 60 FPS Cause Issues with In-Game Cutscenes
- When playing the game at framerates above 60 FPS, cutscenes may be improperly framed. The first-person camera can become misaligned, causing parts of the scene to be obscured or cut off by black bars.[19]
Notes
- If your saves do not go far back enough, then the first two issues are game-ending. Technically, modifying the save file or using a trainer would also fix the issue, but neither solution has been documented.
Issues fixed
- TweakGuides has created a comprehensive guide for fixing issues in this game.
Installation gets stuck with "Download server not responding" error (Retail)
|
Spoof the Bioshock Auto Patcher server[20]
|
- Download a web server (like mongoose) into some folder.
- Start it on port 80 (in mongoose's case:
mongoose-5.0.exe -listening_port 80).
- Create a subfolder named
bioshock.
- Download this in there, but rename it to
installer. * Note the lack of any file extension *
- Run a text editor as administrator and open
%WINDIR%\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
- Copy and paste the following at the end of the file:
127.0.0.1 www.2kgames.com
- Save the changes.
|
Crash on startup (0xc0000005 error)
|
Run the game via Steam as a non-Steam game to use the launcher's audio API
|
|
Notes
- Launching the game with the
-nosound parameter should work, but there will be no audio.
|
Crash on startup with "Failed to create the GameExplorer object"
Crash upon autosave/quicksave
Crashing applies default settings
|
Set configuration files to read-only[citation needed]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- In Properties, set
bioshock.ini and User.ini to read-only.
Notes
- Additional changes to settings cannot be made while files are set to read-only.
|
|
Delete INI file before restarting[citation needed]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Delete
Running.ini.
Notes
- Process must be repeated after each crash, can be automated with an "if exist" batch script.
|
Video settings not saving/white screen while saving
In-game Brightness Slider Not Working
|
Brightness Slider Not Working[24]
|
|
If running multiple monitors, disconnect all but one. The in-game brightness slider will now adjust brightness correctly. The slider breaks if the game detects multiple monitors.
|
Audio cutting out
- On some computers, user audio will cut out during combat sequences.
- Issue can be lessened slightly by not using constant-fire weapons such as lasers / hacked sentry bots, or increasing max sound channels in BioShock.ini and Default.ini
|
Edit the maximum number of channels[25]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
bioshock.ini.
- Find the following line, under [FMODAudio.FMODAudioSubsystem], and increase the number of channels.
MaxChannels=128
|
|
Enable EAX[26]
|
- Download and install OpenAL.
- Go to
%WINDIR%\SysWoW64 (or %WINDIR%\System32 on 32-bit systems).
- Copy
wrap_oal.dll to <path-to-game>\Builds\Release.
- Rename the file to
openal32.dll.
- Enable EAX audio in the in-game options.
|
Crashing upon changing resolution
|
Edit default resolution[citation needed]
|
- Go to the configuration file(s) location.
- Open
bioshock.ini.
- Find the following lines, and set the desired values.
FullscreenViewportX=YourWidth
FullscreenViewportY=YourHeight
MenuViewportX=YourWidth
MenuViewportY=YourHeight
|
|
Change resolutions while in windowed mode[citation needed]
|
- Push Alt+↵ Enter, before entering the Video Options menu.
- Set the desired resolution, then apply the changes.
- Leave the Video Options menu, then push Alt+↵ Enter again.
|
Excessive screen tearing (Nvidia)
|
Instructions[citation needed]
|
- Go to the Nvidia Control Panel. Open the 3D Settings menu.
- Add
Bioshock.exe to the list. Enable FXAA and V-Sync.
Notes
- This should be necessary due to "somewhat broken MLAA".[citation needed]
|
Frame rate stuttering
|
Disable Vsync[citation needed]
|
Launch the game using the -dx9 parameter[citation needed]
|
Can't enable EAX in game after updating OpenAL and copying wrap_oal.dll to BioShock folder and renaming it to OpenAL32.dll
|
Enable Stereo Mix in sound control panel[27]
|
- Right-click the speaker symbol on the bottom right of your desktop.
- Click "Recording devices".
- Right-click in the box and click "Show Disabled Devices".
- Right-click "Stereo Mix" and click "Enable".
- Now you should be able to turn on EAX in the BioShock sound menu.
|
|
Force EAX via config file[28]
|
- Open
%APPDATA%\Bioshock\Bioshock.ini with a text editor.
- Set or add the following:
[ShockGame.ShockUserSettings]
bEAXEnabled=True
- Save the changes.
|
Sound missing after intro sequence (Windows 8 or Windows 10)
- In Windows 8 and later, BioShock may have no sound, and it may be impossible to progress past the bathysphere scene as the NPCs become stuck and won't move.
|
Run the game in Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode[29]
|
|
Use Creative ALchemy[30]
Add BioShock's exe to Creative ALchemy's list and rename the dsound.dll to OpenAL32.dll.
|
Subtitles Dissappearing When Using a Controller
- When playing the game with the "Use Xbox 360 Controller" and "Use Dialog Subtitles" settings both enabled, the dialog subtitles would occassionally dissappear. [31]
|
Install Gamepad Subtitle Fix[32]
|
- Download an archive from here (use "Manual download" button).
- Extract the
HUDRadial.swf file into the <path-to-game>\Content\FlashMovies folder.
Notes
- May not work with the non-EFIGS languages (eg. Polish).
|
Other information
API
| Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
| Direct3D |
9.0c, 10 |
|
| OpenGL |
2.0 |
OS X only. |
| Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
| Windows |
|
|
|
| macOS (OS X) |
|
|
32-bit only.[33] |
Middleware
Performance tweak (Havok)
|
Improving Havok physics engine performance[citation needed]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game>\Build\Final
(if folder Final doesn't exists, then enter Retail folder).
- Open
Default.ini.
- Edit the line
HavokNumThreads=2 to represent the number of cores in your machine's CPU.
For example, using a quad-core CPU, change the line to HavokNumThreads=4.
- Some systems may require doing the same with
Bioshock.ini, located in %APPDATA%\Bioshock.
|
Performance tweak (Engine Memory)
|
Improving Engine Memory usage[citation needed]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game>\Build\Final
(if folder Final doesn't exists, then enter Retail folder).
- Open
Default.ini.
- Search for
[Engine.GameEngine] and increase the CacheSizeMegs value under it (maxes out at 512).
- Some systems may require doing the same with
Bioshock.ini, located in %APPDATA%\Bioshock.
|
Mods
- Requires the GOG version of BioShock (2007)
This project is a ground-up restoration, combining full real-time path tracing with a complete PBR asset overhaul and an extensive, custom-built compatibility mod that pushes beyond the limits of both the original game engine and the Remix framework itself. BioShock RTX meticulously rebuilds the stunning art deco world with modern rendering technology while solving deep-seated engine issues to deliver an experience that is not only visually breathtaking but also significantly more stable and performant than the original game.
- Modern borderless window, XeGTAO, SMAA, 16x AF, sharpening filter, film grain, FPS limiter and more.
System requirements
| Windows |
|
Minimum | Recommended |
| Operating system (OS) |
XP SP2 | Vista |
| Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium 4 2.4 GHz | Intel Core 2 Duo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 |
| System memory (RAM) |
1 GB | 2 GB |
| Storage drive (HDD/SSD) |
8 GB | |
| Video card (GPU) |
Nvidia GeForce 6600
ATI Radeon X1300
128 MB of VRAM
DirectX 9.0c compatible
Shader model 3.0 support | Nvidia GeForce 7900 GT (DirectX 9)
Nvidia GeForce 8600 (DirectX 10)
512 MB of VRAM
DirectX 10 compatible |
| Sound (audio device) |
DirectX 9.0c compatible | |
- Known to run on Windows 2000 using the tricks listed here. Separate patch for the demo version found here.
| macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
| Operating system (OS) |
10.5.8 |
| Processor (CPU) |
1.4 GHz |
| System memory (RAM) |
1.5 GB |
| Storage drive (HDD/SSD) |
8 GB |
| Video card (GPU) |
128 MB of VRAM |
- Requires an Intel processor. The game does not support Intel GMA integrated video chipsets (older Mac minis and MacBooks), but does run on GeForce 9400M graphics cards or better.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
References
- ↑ GamersGate - last accessed on 2025-07-12
- ↑ Verified by User:SargeCassidy on 2025-05-01
- Downloaded a copy off the Marketplace's CDN and after installation, both the
paul.dll and the PA activation prompt on executable launch are present.
- ↑ Bioshock - Games for Windows - last accessed on 19 August 2022
- ↑ Bioshock - Xbox.com - last accessed on 19 July 2025
- ↑ Activation limits removed on BioShock for the PC - 2K Forums - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Choppy Physics Fix - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ 2K Games - The Cult of Rapture - The Truth About Widescreen - last accessed on 2021-05-15
- "Summary:
- BioShock was primarily developed and tuned for widescreen mode. Artists and designers worked with widescreen displays and chose a field of view (FOV) that best reflected their intentions with respect to the way the world is perceived, the perceived speed of movement of the player relative to the world and the amount of the world they wanted to be viewed for the best game-play experience. We went through dozens of iterations and finally settled upon a widescreen aspect ratio that best suited the gameplay experience.
- [...]
- Once this FOV was established, we chose to keep exactly the same horizontal FOV for standard def displays, so as not to in any way alter the gameplay experience.
- Instead of cropping the FOV for 4:3 displays and making all 4:3 owners mad in doing so, we slightly extended the vertical FOV for standard def mode: we never wanted to have black bars on people's displays. (This way, everybody is happy) This does mean that people playing on a standard def display see slightly more vertical space, but, this does not significantly affect the game-play experience and, we felt that it best served our goal of keeping the game experience as close as possible to the original design and art vision on both types of displays. Reports of the widescreen FOV being a crop of the 4:3 FOV are completely false."
- ↑ Verified by User:Aemony on 2019-04-29
- ↑ New 120Hz Games Report - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ adjusting FOV in bioshock 1 - Steam Users' Forums (retrieved)
- ↑ Can I play BioShock with a gamepad? - last accessed on 2025-07-11
- ↑ Verified by User:Patrxgt on 2025-07-11
- ↑ Verified by User:Flang on 2019-07-21
- ↑ Sound Blaster Gaming: BioShock Audio Guide (retrieved)
- ↑ PC Gaming Surround Sound Round-up - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Techgage - Creative EAX vs Asus DS3D GX 2.0 - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Known Bioshock Issues - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Fort Frolic - The BioShock Wiki - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Framerate Issues Discussion - last accessed on January 2025
- ↑ Solved: BioShock retail cannot connect to download server \ VOGONS - last accessed on 2025-07-11
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Bioshock with EAX and virtual surround sound 🎧 (CMSS-3D Headphone)
- ↑ Verified by User:3dj on 2025-11-26
- ↑ Verified by User:Patrxgt on 2025-07-17
- ↑ Brightness slider not actually doing anything? :: Steam Community Discussions - last accessed on 2025-07-11
- ↑ Steam Community Guide - Fix audio cutting out - last accessed on 2017-02-12
- ↑ Sound cutting out in Bioshock 1 - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Win 10 and no sound - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Bioshock EAX support - last accessed on August 2024
- ↑ Steam Community - last accessed on May 2023
- ↑ Verified by User:Mrpenguinb on 2025-09-22
- Renamed dsound.dll to OpenAL32.dll, not sure if it's necessary
- ↑ BioShock 1 subtitles issues (problem) - last accessed on July 2014
- ↑ Verified by User:Patrxgt on 2025-07-11
- ↑ Last chance to buy these Mac classics! | Feral News - last accessed on 2025-07-11
