Unable to create direct3d please ensure system has current video drivers

[SenjorSasquach]

I downloaded the game and every time i try to play it that error message pops up. I have updated my video drivers and ensured that I have all the proper specs on my computer but nothing seems to fix it. I have no idea where to go from here.

I am currently running the DirectX 12 Version.

[Seven7]

Old games don't know about DX above 9.0c - install it! %Steam root%\steamapps\common\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance\DirectX\DXSETUP.exe

[SenjorSasquach]

I read that I needed to download DX 9.0c but i have been unable to find how to. I am running windows 10 on an HP computer. I got to the the point of importing the files from the Microsoft website thing, but i have no idea where to place the folder that has all the files in it.

UPDATE: I ran the DXSETUP.exe thing on my computer. I successful installed DirectX9 and enabled Direct Play just in case, But i still get the same message when i try to actually run the game.

[loudman2]

Here is the long standing thread on this very issue - https://steamcommunity.com/app/9420/discussions/0/810919057032133399/

It might be helpful if you could post some information about your graphics card. If this is a laptop with integrated graphics or something of that kind, you may be in a spot - otherwise you should be able to solve this.

[SenjorSasquach]

I am running on a laptop with 2 graphics cards (i think, i know very little about computers and such):
Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620
NVIDIA GeForce MX150

Update: Tried to run the DXSETUP.exe again and nothing worked. I have no idea how to use the info given in the thread given above. It also seems pretty outdated.

[Seven7]

after M$, Intel and nVidia start dropping DirectX 9.0c support, old games may not work or work incorrect on integrated video (on XP, Vista, 7 SC series worked on Intel HD above 3000 like charm) so you must be sure, that game detect correct video,
check nVidia Control panel - Controlling 3D parameters - Software settings - Supreme Commander (supremecommander.exe) - nVidia GPU

+check power management - Control Panel \ All Control Panel Items \ Power Options \ Change Schematic Settings \
IF there NO "High performance" scheme (some Windows Updates may delete all Schemes and replace them with Balanced (default for laptops)! - create it!:
Control Panel \ All Control Panel Items \ Power Options \ Create a Power Scheme - create new, like "Gaming" and Change advanced power settings - disable switch off HDD, disable PCIx Control (if enabled it throttle \ sleep discrete video and SSD, SATA bus)
check CPU Power settings it will be 100% for mains power supply (outlet) and use Active cooling

NB: it translated! - don't have english version OS and drivers installed, so it may be written a bit different on your version and build and language OS
btw, what model of laptop? it something back from 2017 on Kaby Lake 8 that M$ and Intel want abandon, right?

and don't use drivers via M$ WSUS - they completely drop DX9 in it - use WHQL drivers from nVidia and Intel (NOT Game Ready!)

[Handful of Sharks]

Not to be that person that resurrects but this was the first search result that popped up when trying to find the solution to this. My issue was my primary monitor was a vertical monitor and SupCom did not like trying to start at that aspect ratio (since rotated). Temporarily changing my primary monitor via Display Panel to my horizontal ("normal") monitor, I was able to launch the game and set it to launch in windowed mode and actually play.

[DryRubberChicken]

I desperately want to get some people together to create legacy video card emulation software. Software video adapter mapping function calls to their dx10+ equivs. Basically if we don't at some point, so much fantastic old software is made deliberately obsolete, just for sake of doing so. If any devs with experience in emulation want to hit me up. I do code, and am currently pursuing education in that area but I feel like that project needs me to not be the most experienced person.

[Ceejay]

Originally posted by ReticentMisAnThrope:

I desperately want to get some people together to create legacy video card emulation software. Software video adapter mapping function calls to their dx10+ equivs. Basically if we don't at some point, so much fantastic old software is made deliberately obsolete, just for sake of doing so. If any devs with experience in emulation want to hit me up. I do code, and am currently pursuing education in that area but I feel like that project needs me to not be the most experienced person.

Slightly off topic
=============

I am not sure this would help as I am not sure it anything to do with the latest drivers, for instance people with 3090's and the latest cpu's can run this fine. The op has an issue on their end somewhere, though they stopped posting so they either gave up or they got it working.

Also old software is not made deliberately obsolete, its more a case of technology has to move forward so os's etc have to move with the times, besides most old software still runs fine on newer hardware, even if you need to use the odd trick.

As well as generally issues with older software is mainly from the OS not a video driver issue.

For instance I can run Wolfenstein 3d from 1991 fine. If there is the odd issue, you simply need to run something like DOSBOX.

[Kaathan]

Originally posted by ReticentMisAnThrope:

I desperately want to get some people together to create legacy video card emulation software. Software video adapter mapping function calls to their dx10+ equivs.

This already exists thanks to a legendary guy called "Dege", who has created a wrapper that converts anything from Dx2 to Dx8 to more modern Dx version, and he is working on also supporting Dx9 (but as the other guy explained, Dx9 should still run ok these days in most cases).
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/DgVoodoo_2
It can even emulate some special features exclusive to certain old hardware like Shadow Buffers, which was used in the old Splinter Cell Games:
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/feature-shadowbuffers/

[DryRubberChicken]

Originally posted by Kaathan:

Originally posted by ReticentMisAnThrope:

I desperately want to get some people together to create legacy video card emulation software. Software video adapter mapping function calls to their dx10+ equivs.

This already exists thanks to a legendary guy called "Dege", who has created a wrapper that converts anything from Dx2 to Dx8 to more modern Dx version, and he is working on also supporting Dx9 (but as the other guy explained, Dx9 should still run ok these days in most cases).
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/DgVoodoo_2
It can even emulate some special features exclusive to certain old hardware like Shadow Buffers, which was used in the old Splinter Cell Games:
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/feature-shadowbuffers/

You are THE organism. Choose whatever nouns you may, as that appears the fashion. nevertheless, my thanks.

[Maelstromeous]

For 4K monitor users, there's an incompatability with the base SupCom FA (to be fair the game is 15+ years old) that will not support 4K out of the box, however it can be done via Forged Alliance Forever (FAF).

1. Download and install Forged Alliance Forever https://www.faforever.com/
2. If you have a 4K monitor only, downgrade it's resolution to at most 1440p or the game simply will not run at all, or, if you have a 2nd monitor not at 4K like I do, go into windows display settings and set your non 4K monitor as the main display, the game should then boot.
3. Create a custom game with just yourself in it and launch it
4. The game *should* open, in which case I recommend you do 2 things:
4a. Open settings in game, go to Video, and there should now be an option to run your game at 4K. Do this and restart.
4b. Create and launch another custom game, go into Interface and set the UI scaling to 150%, or else you can't read anything on the screen at all.

[L&D]

Alright guys if you've got >4k monitor game won't start since there is no Game.prefs file in
AppData\Local\Gas Powered Games\Supreme Commander Forged Alliance

What you should do is to create a new txt file with the connect of

options_overrides = {
primary_adapter = {
default = 'windowed',
custom = {
states = {
{
text = '<LOC OPTIONS_0070>Windowed',
key = 'windowed'
},
}
}
}
}
version = {
major = 1
}

And rename this file into Game.prefs, so enjoy the game

[Naranciata]

this works