Fallout 3 – Game of the Year Edition – Steam Overlay w/ Full-screen [Guide]

Fixing Fallout 3’s Compatibility With Windows 10

Some of you might get the error that you’re unable to run Fallout 3 and get an error message like this:

I will try to help you fix that problem.

Source -> https://windowsreport.com/fallout-3-windows-10/

1. Check if you need to update your graphics card driver.
Games are GPU-intensive apps, so any problems with your video drivers will translate into bad gameplay experiences or even errors during gameplay.
That being said, if you experience any of the above while playing Fallout 3, proceed to update your graphics drivers as soon as possible.
The fasted way to do so is with a dedicated driver updater like DriverFix, as it will guarantee the latest drivers for your current hardware.
This product is extremely lightweight and will find all of your outdated, broken, or missing drivers within seconds of scanning your PC.
You can then opt to install the latest drivers either automatically, manually, or semi-manually.

2. Run Fallout 3 in compatibility mode.
1. Open File Explorer with the Windows key + E hotkey for it.
2. Open Fallout 3’s Steam folder within File Explorer.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 goty

3. Then right-click the Fallout 3 .exe file to select Properties.
4. Next, select the Compatibility tab on the game’s properties window.

5. Select the Run this program in compatibility mode for the setting.
6. Then select Windows XP (Service Pack 3) on the platform drop-down menu.

• You can try selecting other Windows XP service pack platforms and Windows 7 if the XP Service Pack 3 option doesn’t do the trick.

7. In addition, select the checkbox for the Run this program as an administrator option.
8. Click Apply to save settings.
9. Click the OK button to exit.

When Fallout 3 doesn’t work in Windows 10, it’s often a compatibility issue that can be resolved with compatibility mode.

3. Edit the Falloutprefs.ini config file for Fallout 3.
1. Editing the game’s Falloutprefs.ini file can also fix Fallout 3 not working in Windows 10. Open File Explorer.
2. Click My Documents > My Games > Fallout 3 to open that folder path.
3. Double-click the falloutprefs.ini file to open it in Notepad.
4. Next, look for the bUseThreadedAI=0 setting in the falloutprefs.ini file.
5. Change the bUseThreadedAI=0 setting to bUseThreadedAI=1.
6. If the bUseThreadedAI=0 isn’t in the file, enter bUseThreaded=1 on a new line within the file.
7. Then add iNumHWThreads=2 to another new line within the falloutprefs.ini file.
8. Click File and Save to save the new settings within the file.
9. Thereafter, try running Fallout 3 again.

4. Install Games For Windows Live.
Since Games For Windows Live is discontinued, I found a link to download it alternatively.

GFWL -> https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/1012-microsoft-games-for-windows-live/

1. Open up the GFWL RAR/Zip file.
2. Click on gfwlivesetup.exe
3. Go through the setup wizard to install GFWL.
4. Launch the GWFL software when it’s finished installing.

• Then it will start downloading some files.

I can’t remember what method I did for my other computer to fix Fallout 3 but those are some of the methods I’m familiar to. I hope this helped. If it didn’t, try finding another guide to help.

[Note]: It worked when I did steps 2-4. I remember on my other computer I had to use another software to cancel out GFWL in order for Fallout 3 to work properly.

Mod Organizer

You will need to use MO in order to use mods because how else are you going to activate them? Do not use Vortex as it won’t work as well as MO. You will need to be signed in on Nexus in order to download any mods off of there, including Mod Organizer.

Link -> https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6194

Ignore that it’s themed around Skyrim, it still uses Fallout 3, New Vegas, and Skyrim.

Once you’ve downloaded Mod Organizer 2, click on “Accept Agreement.” Next, you will need to choose a different folder for Mod Organizer to be installed. It has to be a folder within the Fallout 3’s data folder. You must do this in order to use the FalloutLauncher Replacer. This is optional if you want Steam to keep track of your total playtime and achievements.

Try making a new folder for Mod Organizer within the Fallout 3 folder.

“C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 goty” or Browse Local Files.

Hop on back over to the Mod Organizer setup and click browse. Once you’ve found the folder, click on it and tap OK. Hit next three more times (ignore the select different folder unless you want to put it somewhere else), hit create a desktop shortcut (optional). Hit next and click Install.

Once it’s done, hit Finish. Click either create portable instance or global instance. Browse for Fallout 3. If it pops up a window to find the folder for it, just find the Fallout 3 folder and use folder. Select the current game edition of the game you have. Hit next. Click on Connect to Nexus and authorise it. Hit next again. Click Finish.

You have successfully installed Mod Organizer.

FOSE

FOSE is a mod extender for Fallout 3. You will need this to properly enable OneTweak.

Link -> https://fose.silverlock.org/

Download the latest and stable version. Make sure you have either 7-Zip or WinRAR installed to download this with the right content. If you have already downloaded FOSE without them first, you can just right-click on the file and click Add to “example.rar” or “.zip”

Once you open up the RAR/Zip file, open the folder and Ctrl + Left Click all the necessary files (mainly ones that end with “.dll” and the foseloader.exe) and drag it in the Fallout 3 folder. Make sure you don’t move it in any of the folders within it or it would screw up the process. If you did, delete the selected files you accidentally dragged into the folder.

Open up Mod Organizer and click on the Fallout 3 icon and select FOSE.

If it doesn’t appear, make sure you check on the Fallout 3 Folder that it’s not inside in any of the folders within it.
Click Run. Hit the ` key and type in “getfoseversion” It should be set to version 1.

If this all worked, you have successfully downloaded FOSE.

OneTweak

This will set Fallout 3 into full-screen, has Alt+Tab functionality, and double cursor fix, let’s begin.

Requirements: FOSE

Link -> https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/21337

You will need to download OneTweak on the link above. Ignore that it shows Skyrim. It still uses the same method for Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas.

Run the launcher and open settings. Make sure it’s set on Windowed Mode, all the other settings don’t matter but you can change them to your own liking. You may hit OK and exit out of the launcher.

Open Mod Organizer (make sure it’s set to FOSE), go to Downloads and open up WinRAR/7-Zip on the searchbar. Bring the entire OneTweak RAR/Zip file into Downloads, not the folder within the file.

Ignore the error symbol, we will fix that soon. Double-click on OneTweak and click Manual. Right-click on OneTweak for FO3 and select Set data directory. You can select Docs, FOSE, and fomod but that one is optional. If this has already popped up, just hit OK.
On the left, click on the OneTweak box to check it. Double click on OneTweak For Fallout 3, click Nexux Info and change the version to 2.0.1.1 and hit enter. This will keep the version up-to-date.

Hit Close.

You’re now pretty much done with everything! You can hit Run to run the game but if you want Steam to keep track of your total playtime, then follow this last step…

Steam Overlay (Optional)

[Note]: I’m not sure if it tracks achievements so comment me if it does or doesn’t.

Link -> https://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/21364

Download it with either WinRAR or 7-Zip. Open up the file and it will show FalloutLauncher.exe . Don’t worry if it doesn’t say .exe . Go to Fallout 3’s game folder and find the main FalloutLauncher.exe . Right-click on it, click rename, click at the very end of FalloutLauncher and type in _ORG and hit enter.

Mine doesn’t say .exe so don’t delete it if it shows up for you.

Now all you have to do is drag the new downloaded FalloutLauncher.exe file and move it in the Fallout 3 game folder. This will now act as the launcher for the game.

A command prompt should now open up if you open Fallout 3 on Steam. Press 1 for the normal Fallout 3 Launcher, 2 for FOSE only and 3 for Mod Organizer. I suggest option 3 so it plays on full-screen.
Remember earlier how I said to select Mod Organizers main directory in the Fallout 3 folder? This is the reason why. It won’t work if it’s set by its own folder directory and it would just play the game normally with a windowed border at the top.

Anyways, you’re officially done!

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