This page is for the original 1999 version. For the 2025 remaster, see System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster.
General information
- GOG.com Community Discussions for game series
- GOG.com Support Page
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability • Link
- SafeDisc DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected releases).
- All the digital distribution versions are pre-patched with NewDark.
- OS X and Linux versions use Wine.
- A faithful higher resolution icon for Windows can be downloaded from the Files section.
- A free demo version is available from Archive.org.
Essential improvements • Link
- Essential patcher which integrates the NewDark patch and fixes various issues.
- Latest versions automatically disable the intro video (to re-enable it, add always_play_intro to the
cam.cfg or cam_ext files).
- SS2Tool requires Vista or later due to included Rsync, however NewDark runs on 2000/XP or later. One can patch it on a Vista machine then transfer it to an older machine. Digital versions already include NewDark and compatibility fixes for modern systems, but the tool is still necessary for proper mod support.
- Allows the original (aka OldDark) engine to run on modern systems.
- Not as stable as NewDark, but is more true to the original experience.
Game data • Link
Configuration file(s) location • Link
| System |
Location |
| Windows |
<path-to-game>\*.cfg[Note 2] |
| macOS (OS X) |
<path-to-game>/Contents/Resources/drive_c/Games/System Shock 2/ |
| Linux |
$HOME/.systemshock2/systemshock2/drive_c/Program Files/SystemShock2/*.cfg |
-
cam.cfg contains game settings.
-
cam_ext.cfg is the configuration file for the game once patched using SS2Tool.
- It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.
Save game data location • Link
| System |
Location |
| Windows |
<path-to-game>\save_*[Note 2] |
| macOS (OS X) |
|
| Linux |
$HOME/.systemshock2/systemshock2/drive_c/Program Files/SystemShock2/save_* |
- Save games are kept in multiple folders, e.g.
\save_0\, \save_1\, etc.
- In addition to setting video options, editing
cam_ext.cfg allows setting the interface/HUD scale and transparency. There are also custom crosshairs available (using them with a mod manager requires changing their extension from .ss2mod to .zip).
|
Change field of view (FOV)[5]
|
- For retail versions, install SS2Tool.
- Edit
<path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg.
- Change
;fov 90 to fov # (any number).
|
|
Change windowed mode[6]
|
- For retail versions, install SS2Tool.
- Edit
<path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg.
- Change
;force_windowed to force_windowed
|
|
Disable vsync[7]
|
- For retail versions, install SS2Tool.
- Edit
<path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg.
- Change
;vsync_mode 0 to vsync_mode 0
|
|
Change frame rate cap[8]
|
- For retail versions, install SS2Tool.
- Edit
<path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg.
- Change
;vsync_mode 7 to vsync_mode 7
- Change
framerate_cap 100.0 to the desired FPS cap.
|
|
Ensuring correct game speed[9]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game>.
- Edit
cam_ext.cfg.
- Change
;phys_freq 60 to phys_freq 60
- If you want more than 250 FPS, change
SlowFrame 4 to ;SlowFrame 4
|
Disable bilinear texture filtering • Link
|
Disable texture filtering[10]
|
- For retail versions, install SS2Tool.
- Edit
<path-to-game>\cam_ext.cfg.
- Change
tex_filter_mode 16 to tex_filter_mode 0.
- This also disables anisotropic filtering; this can be forced separately using external means[citation needed].
|
| Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
| Separate volume controls |
|
|
| Surround sound |
|
Up to 7.0 output.[13] Requires OpenAL Soft. |
| Subtitles |
|
mod on Systemshock.org |
| Closed captions |
|
|
| Mute on focus lost |
|
|
| EAX support |
|
EAX (2[citation needed]) and A3D. For further info refer to this thread. Effects from both APIs are remapped to OpenAL in NewDark versions.
Follow this guide for OpenAL Soft HRTF in NewDark.[14] |
| Royalty free audio |
|
|
Localizations • Link
Network • Link
- Multiplayer is officially unsupported in NewDark. Even so, a guide for use with NewDark is available here.
Multiplayer types • Link
Connection types • Link
| Protocol |
Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
| TCP |
2300-2400, 28800-28900 |
| UDP |
2300-2400, 28800-28900 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
VR support • Link
Issues fixed • Link
Random crashing • Link
Jerky/Uneven mouse movement • Link
|
Add a line to cam_ext.cfg[16]
|
|
Install NewDark via SS2Tool.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam_ext.cfg.
- Add the line
use_raw_mouse_input.
- Save the file.
|
Left-clicking or dragging does not work • Link
Small game window or black screen • Link
|
Edit cam_ext.cfg to disable multisampling[18]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Open
cam_ext.cfg using a text editor.
- Comment out and change
multisampletype 8 to ;multisampletype 8
|
|
Enable SS2Tool Safe Mode[19]
|
- Download and run the SS2Tool installer.
- At the Choose Components installation step, enable Safe Mode.
- Click Install and finish installing.
|
UI too small on high screen resolutions • Link
|
Edit cam_ext.cfg to enable ui scaling[20]
|
- Open
cam_ext.cfg in a text editor.
- Uncomment the line
;d3d_disp_scaled_2d_overlay 64 by removing the semicolon.
Notes
- If this does not fix the issue, try scaling the UI to arbitrary resolutions by re-commenting out the above line (add back in the semicolon), uncommenting the line
;d3d_disp_scaled_2d_overlay 640 480 and adjusting the 640 and the 480 to the desired resolution. However, this may cause the UI to become blurry/pixelated, so try the initial fix first.
|
Poor performance on Mac wineskin version • Link
|
Enable X11[21]
|
|
Find the System Shock 2.app and right-click on it. Click Show Contents and run Wineskin.app. In the Screen Options, you should see a checkbox that says Use Mac Driver instead of X11. Uncheck that box and that should fix the problem. If box is already unchecked then check it instead.
|
Can't dive in Mac or Linux version • Link
Cannot install on Windows NT or later • Link
- Full error message is "This product cannot be installed on Windows NT due to a Microsoft DirectX 6.1 limitation."
|
Manual installation[23]
|
- Copy the "shock" folder from the CD into a desired installation folder.
Notes
- Recommended to avoid installing to the Program Files folder.
|
|
Installer command line option[24]
|
- Launch the installer with the "-lgntforce" command line option.
|
Other information • Link
| Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
| Direct3D |
6, 9.0c |
Originally released with 6.1; 9.0c support was added in digital re-releases |
| DirectDraw |
6.1 |
|
| Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
| Windows |
|
|
|
| macOS (OS X) |
|
|
Was changed from using Wine (which lacks a 64-bit macOS version) to Wineskin Winery in July 2020, making it possible to run on macOS 10.15 onwards.[25] |
| Linux |
|
|
|
Middleware • Link
|
Middleware |
Notes |
| Audio |
DirectSound, OpenAL |
Replaced with OpenAL in NewDark |
Mods and fan missions • Link
- Modding guide with links and relevant mod info, from the System Shock Forums.
- System Shock Forums boards for mods, fan missions, and editing documentation
- Modding the Wineskin version can be done by firstly installing the Windows version in a virtual machine, patching it, installing all desired modifications, and then replacing the System Shock 2 installation within the Wineskin version with the custom version.
System requirements • Link
Original retail release • Link
| Windows |
|
Minimum | Recommended |
| Operating system (OS) |
95 | 95, 98 |
| Processor (CPU) |
Intel Pentium 200 MHz / Cyrix 6x86 / AMD K6 | Intel Pentium 300 MHz |
| System memory (RAM) |
32 MB | 64 MB |
| Storage drive (HDD/SSD) |
200 MB | 500 MB |
| Video card (GPU) |
4 MB of VRAM
DirectX 6.1 compatible | 3Dfx Voodoo Graphics / Voodoo Rush / Voodoo 2 / Voodoo Banshee / ATI Rage Pro / Nvidia Riva 128 / Nvidia TNT / Rendition Vérité V2200 / Intel740 / Matrox G200 |
| Sound (audio device) |
Sound card with DirectSound support | |
Digital re-release • Link
| Windows |
|
Minimum |
| Operating system (OS) |
XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 |
| Processor (CPU) |
1.8 GHz |
| System memory (RAM) |
2 GB |
| Storage drive (HDD/SSD) |
2 GB |
| Video card (GPU) |
DirectX 9.0c compatible |
| macOS (OS X) |
|
Minimum |
| Operating system (OS) |
10.7.0 |
| Processor (CPU) |
Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz |
| System memory (RAM) |
2 GB |
| Storage drive (HDD/SSD) |
2 GB |
| Video card (GPU) |
256 MB of VRAM |
References • Link
