How to get Arx Fatalis to operate properly on modern systems (Windows 10)

This is a guide designed to help people configure Arx Fatalis properly. This is for users who have the Steam version of Arx Fatalis.

First, install Arx Libertatis Patch 1.1.2 "Rhaa Movis"

By default, Steam's configuration of Arx Fatalis is bad and non-functional (as in it won't launch). Installing Arx Libertatis, a modification that enables Arx Fatalis to run on modern systems, will fix this. To apply the patch, first install it, then move it to your Arx Fatalis directory in your Steam files.

Download the patch here: http://wiki.arx-libertatis.org/Download

To Fix the Mouse Glitch

I myself have encountered the glitch in which the mouse moves rampantly across the screen at the slightest movement. This is an easy fix however, and requires no downloads of sorts. To start, first open your Arx Fatalis compatability settings. Check in the box of "Override high DPI scaling behavior." It will ask where. Set it to this option to "Scaling performed by: Application." This option prevents the game from messing with your mouse so much as scaling in games is typically useless.

Next, it as advisable to set the game to run as administrator. You can even set it to run in a compatibility mode. In my case, I set this option to Windows Vista. Finally, open your game and go to video options. One of the first options you will see is for the renderer. By default, it should say "auto-select." Change it to D3D 9. This should fix the mouse problem.

[Saalishiisi]

Ah, I see. Well, good that the latest patch actually works. I hope you'll enjoy :)

[Anatolius]

Still does

[Saalishiisi]

Happy to hear that 1.2.1 is working for you! :) Did it give a warning message about containing malware or has that been addressed now?

[Anatolius]

I did encounter major trouble on 1.1.2 - after first first visiting arx and trying to go back to the trolls to pass kings message i fall through texture after location change(quitout doesn't work, neither moving, save\load).
1.2.1 fixed it - it also has much more customization options

[Saalishiisi]

Welcome, mate! :)

Well, if it's working then I guess what you must do next is have fun with the game hahaha

Yeah, I remember seeing that reddit thread too! Seems really fishy, if I'm honest. He wouldn't need to be militant about it since it's a simple solution. Perhaps it is a false positive, but like you said, disabling Windows Defender just to download a patch is a huge red flag. Until that warning is resolved, it's probably for the best to avoid the latest version.

[Jc_Soares]

Thank you for the response. The mod appears to be working that's why i asked you if i can just play it anyway. I know about the update but the game runs choppy for me and there are some visual bugs. I think they just made it possible to run on win 10 and nothing else. As for the virus warnings i found this link where someone that appears to be the dev explains what is happening: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArxFatalis/comments/n4fk5d/arx_libertatis_virus_false_positive/

It seems this is something he made for recent versions. Honestly, i don't like his atittude towards this problem. He seems to blame the companies instead of fixing what appears to be a simple solution. It's strange to me that this hasn't been fixed yet. This is the only mod i've used where this happens. I'm sure It's just a false positive, but even then i don't like to install something that is flagged as a virus (and i certainly wouldn't do like when someone suggested to disable the av software or windows defender).

[Saalishiisi]

*you used to not be able to run the game without AL

[Saalishiisi]

Alternatively, you CAN run the game vanilla. There was a patch Steam put on it in May 2020, which is after I wrote the guide. You used to not be able to run the game with AL, but nowadays it seems fine. I just reinstalled the game and can see that it runs alright without AL. The only caveat is that you can't run the game past 1280x720 resolution, or else the UI gets weird and difficult to interact with. Parts of the screen get pushed off. However, if you don't mind, vanilla is also a working option. I probably ought to update this guide a bit since it's nearing 4,5 years old.

[Saalishiisi]

I looked around and found a Steam thread of someone who was having the same issue: https://steamcommunity.com/app/1700/discussions/0/1621724915784756106/

There is a guy in there telling people to use the newest version of AL, but it seems like every browser flags it as malware. I think the AL people got hacked at some point, because I read some comments on many forums where people were baffled that the download starting getting flagged when back in 2020 things were fine with it.

I'm trying to remember if I had the same message. One thing to try is to launch the game and see if the menu says Arx Libertatis. If so, then congrats, it's working so far.

[Jc_Soares]

The warning appers during the installation of the patch.