Fallout 3 - Game of the Year Edition

Fallout 3 - Game of the Year Edition

Claire Jul 29, 2015 @ 3:03pm
Windows 10 Compatibility Solution
ATTENTION: Fallout 3 has updated mid October 2021. The update removes the requirements for GFWL and is said to fix a number of crashes. There may be issues with mods or other things; There's a downgrader to the previous version of Fallout 3 on the Nexus mod site if you need the previous version.

This thread is largely obsolete besides the edits at the bottom of this.


Fallout 3 GOTY will launch the launcher, but when you go to play the game: Nothing. This is how you fix it.

Fallout 3 uses Games for Windows Live. Somehow windows 10 doesn't have the files.
You have to install Games for Windows Live to get Fallout 3 working again.

Here is a direct link http://download.gfwl.xboxlive.com/content/gfwl-public/redists/production/gfwlivesetup.exe to get the installer.

Simply run the executable and GFWL will install the needed files, allowing FO3 to work. There is no additional work to do.

I believe if you make FO3 independent from GFWL (Disable it from FO3), you could theoretically solve the problem without installing GFWL, as I remember reading somewhere in the guides that it's possible.

EDIT: Just go to http://steamcommunity.com/app/22370/discussions/0/828937546147175081/
This is the pinned super guide. It literally has everything you need, and will help you fix any compatibility issues.

edit edit: Keep in mind fallout 3 updated for the first time in forever october 2021, the pinned super guide may not work if you choose not to downgrade to the previous version.
Last edited by Claire; Oct 23, 2021 @ 3:57am
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Showing 1-15 of 227 comments
Claire Jul 29, 2015 @ 4:59pm 
Originally posted by Ctrl-Master:
another fix use it for windows 10 http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/17209/?tab=2&navtag=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nexusmods.com%2Ffallout3%2Fajax%2Fmodfiles%2F%3Fid%3D17209&pUp=1

I don't see how this would work, as it forces FO to run on intel graphics cards, like the integrated graphics most intel cpu's come with. Unless I'm mistaken, this wouldn't resolve the issue, unless yours was different than mine.

Running FO3 in compatibility mode for windows vista SP2 gives an error message about missing xlive.dll from a windows directory. (Running it outright in windows 10 doesn't give error messages) Be sure of your issue before applying a fix.

If you want to use a discrete video card, don't use the intel bypass mod, update your card specific drivers instead.

Edit: Whoops, it bypasses the intel graphics. Went right over my head.
Last edited by Claire; Aug 4, 2017 @ 2:57pm
DragonsEmber Jul 29, 2015 @ 5:52pm 
I'm troubleshooting FO3 GOY issues at the moment after a windows 10 update. The launcher crashes immediately. Windows prompts me that its not compatible. I just updated my Nvidia 770M to the latest Windows 10 version release. Also reinstalled Games for Windows Live. Restarted system. Thinking of trying a reinstall of the game through steam.

Anyone else experiencing crash of the launcher?
Daevon Jul 29, 2015 @ 5:57pm 
DragonsEmber Jul 29, 2015 @ 6:16pm 
Thank you Ctrl-Master! That Worked! I'm back up and running!
Sound of Freedom Jul 29, 2015 @ 10:21pm 
-was planning on updating to Windows 10
-downloads your dumb link
-watching youtube videos
-♥♥♥♥ ton of adds pop up
-closes google
-runs malware scan
-can't even open google

thankyou so much for your amazing virus

Addon: Reinstalling google right now. you better pray that it works.
Last edited by Sound of Freedom; Jul 29, 2015 @ 10:23pm
Bugs Jul 30, 2015 @ 10:41am 
Originally posted by Worcestershire:
-was planning on updating to Windows 10
-downloads your dumb link
-watching youtube videos
-♥♥♥♥ ton of adds pop up
-closes google
-runs malware scan
-can't even open google

thankyou so much for your amazing virus

Addon: Reinstalling google right now. you better pray that it works.
Thank you for warning me.
Sound of Freedom Jul 30, 2015 @ 11:59am 
Originally posted by Frosted:
Originally posted by Worcestershire:
-was planning on updating to Windows 10
-downloads your dumb link
-watching youtube videos
-♥♥♥♥ ton of adds pop up
-closes google
-runs malware scan
-can't even open google

thankyou so much for your amazing virus

Addon: Reinstalling google right now. you better pray that it works.
Thank you for warning me.

No problem. I managed to reinstall google and it worked fine. But yeah, should've known better.
a Nilfgaardian Aug 4, 2015 @ 9:37am 
Originally posted by Ctrl-Master:
i crashed on the launcher i have use this mods http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout3/mods/17209/?tab=2&navtag=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nexusmods.com%2Ffallout3%2Fajax%2Fmodfiles%2F%3Fid%3D17209&pUp=1 he fix my problem. i have nvidia card 770

Thanks a lot. I had the same issue but couldn't figure out why (GTX 970). Can finally play Fallout 3 again! :)
Hauntwick Aug 4, 2015 @ 10:20am 
WOrked For me
Reality Sep 5, 2015 @ 7:48am 
I upgraded from 8.1 Pro to Win 10 Pro over a month ago. Last week I started playing Fallout 3 again, and now Action Center is telling me that this program "...may not work correctly" in Windows 10. The game seems to be working just fine however. Clicking on the notification links to a download for GFWL, which I haven't installed.

I originally installed FO3 through Steam, and eventually uninstalled GFWL (because, let's face it, it's a stupid program) and have had no issues playing FO3 at all.

The upgrade to Win 10 hooliwanged my video drivers (a clean install of the latest driver took all of a few minutes), but that was the only thing of note. So far I have had no issues playing any of my games, so I'm not sure why Win 10 is telling me to install GFWL--since everything is working fine.

In fact, one of the reasons I stopped playing Fallout games was because they started crashing (they only started crashing after Crysis started crashing) and I couldn't resolve the issue in any of them. I haven't attempted Crysis yet, but so far neither Fallout 3 nor New Vegas has crashed since upgrading to Win 10 Pro.

2x GTX 960
i7-5820k
Sound of Freedom Sep 5, 2015 @ 9:41am 
A) Fallout 3 tends to not crash as much with Windows 10

B) I get the same notification that it may not run correctly with Windows 10 but I just click the X on it and ignore it. Fallout runs just fine.
SoapyPuppyX Sep 30, 2015 @ 5:00pm 
Thank you very Much!!!!!!!
Kothana Sep 30, 2015 @ 6:17pm 
Originally posted by Darkforge07:
Fallout 3 GOTY will launch the launcher, but when you go to play the game: Nothing. This is how you fix it.

Fallout 3 uses Games for Windows Live. Somehow windows 10 doesn't have the files.
You have to install Games for Windows Live to get Fallout 3 working again.

Here is a direct link http://download.gfwl.xboxlive.com/content/gfwl-public/redists/production/gfwlivesetup.exe to get the installer.

Simply run the executable and GFWL will install the needed files, allowing FO3 to work. There is no additional work to do.

I believe if you make FO3 independent from GFWL (Disable it from FO3), you could theoretically solve the problem without installing GFWL, as I remember reading somewhere in the guides that it's possible.

If you don't trust the link, you can always search for it on google, or take my word it's legit.

EDIT: And make sure you update your graphics card drivers. Windows 10 doesn't do a good job of giving you the right ones. This alone solves so many issues.

EDIT EDIT: Just go to http://steamcommunity.com/app/22370/discussions/0/828937546147175081/
This is the pinned super guide. It literally has everything you need, and will help you fix any compatibility issues.
Works perfectly after using that link, thank you!
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Date Posted: Jul 29, 2015 @ 3:03pm
Posts: 227