RtCW with modern graphics (ioRtCW 1.51c, VenomMod 6.5.6, RealRtCW 3.0) - Feb 3, 2020

Get native widescreen screen resolution, high-res textures and modern effects working in original RtCW. In addition, install RealRtCW 3.0 mod and fan made SP campaigns.

Introduction

I recently pickup up RtCW for 1.24 EUR on a Steam sale and discovered it is possible to play this epic classic with upgraded graphics. This guide is a compilation of information found on many forums/threads and compiled to be followed in sequential order. Working as of Feb 3, 2020.

What you can accomplish with this guide:

RtCW with upgraded graphics (VenomMod): Complete steps 0, 1, 2, and 4

VenomMod retains original AI for the most part and upgrades graphics.

RtCW with many additions (RealRTCW mod): Complete steps 0, 3, and 4

RealRTCW tweaks just about everything from graphics to AI, recoil of weapons, atmospheric weather effects, high resolution weapon skins. Personally I recommend RealRTCW with original AI upscaled textures.

Screenshots of RealRTCW 3.0 with AI upscaled textures:

RealRTCW 3.0 with original textures upscaled by AI:
https://youtu.be/BdSzLuCQeBM

Step 0: Prerequisites

1. Install 7-zip (free, for .rar .pk3 archiving/unarchiving). Can use any other archiving utility capable of handing .rar files (i.e WinRAR), but this guide will be 7-zip specific.

Step 1: ioRtCW 1.51c

ioRtCW is latest Id Tech 3 game engine merged into original RtCW Id Tech 3 engine. It provides game engine fixes, native screen resolution, proper widescreen Field of View, and other updates. Both VenomMod and RealRTCW require ioRtCW to be installed.

1: Navigate to: https://github.com/iortcw/iortcw/releases

2: Download iortcw-1.51c-win-x86.zip or whatever plaform specific package you need.
NOTE: iortcw-1.51c-win-x64.zip did not work for me. Crashes with:
Faulting application name: ioWolfSP.x64.exe, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x5c8d0d4d
Faulting module name: unknown, version: 0.0.0.0, time stamp: 0x00000000

3: Extract everything to '~\steamapps\common\Return to Castle Wolfenstein' and overwrite.

Step 2: Venom Mod 6.5.6

VenomMod provides high-res textures, better lighting (optional).

1: Navigate to: www.moddb.com/mods/rtcw-venom-mod and download the latest version (currently v6.5.6).

2: Open the 'Venom Mod v6.5.6' folder and extract the 'Main' folder to '~\steamapps\common\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main'.

2a. Extract contents of 'Shaders for Nvidia users' into '~\steamapps\common\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main' as well if you are using Nvidia.

3: Retain original AI. *Can skip if you want Venom Mod AI, which is more agressive I've heard.
With 7-zip installed, right click '~\Main\sp_vpak.pk3' and choose '7-zip' -> 'Open arhive' and navigate to 'maps' folder. Delete all *.ai files, but leave norway.script in there because that fixes a crash on the Norway map.

4: Navigate to '~\Venom Mod v6.5.6\Main\Choice your autoexec!' folder, then navigate to either 'Max Quality' or 'Extreme Quality' or 'Extreme quality rend2 renderer' folder and copy the contents into '~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main' and overwrite. 'Max Quality' will be more vanilla since 'Extreme Quality' and 'Extreme quality rend2 renderer' adds lighting effects, which are not in the original RtCW.

Continue to Step 4 for tweaks and fixes if you experience problems.

Step 3: RealRtCW 3.0

RealRtCW 3.0 alters gameplay, textures, weapons, AI. RealRTCW 3.0 is compatible with ioRTCW 1.51c. Installing RealRTCW is now much easier since it comes with an installer. Addons can be installed from the same installer.

1. Navigate to: https://www.moddb.com/mods/realrtcw-realism-mod

2. Download latest RealRTCW (currently 3.0)

3. Extract 'realRTCW.zip' and and run the installer. I recommend installing in '~\steamapps\common\Return to Castle Wolfenstein'. You can choose your preferred HD Texture pack in the installer. I prefer the 'Original Upscaled by AI' pack.

5. Re-apply max fps/aspect/mouse acceleration settings as needed.
See 'Tweaks and Fixes' section of this guide.

Continue to Step 4 for tweaks and fixes if you experience problems.

Step 4: Tweaks and Fixes

1. Fix screen stutter, which happens because 144hz monitor is not in sync with fps output from RtCW. 'com_maxfps 0' still produces screen stutter for me. Use the refresh rate of your monitor.

Open: '~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main\autoexec.cfg'
Change: seta com_maxfps "0" -> seta com_maxfps "144"

2. Fix Field of View for widescreen resolutions. Screen won't be zoomed and gun is now visible.
Open: ~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main\autoexec.cfg
Add/Edit: seta cg_fixedAspect "1" -> seta cg_fixedAspect "2"

3. Turn mouse acceleration off.
Open: ~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main\autoexec.cfg
Change: seta cl_mouseAccel "1" -> seta cl_mouseAccel "0"

4. OPTIONAL: Alter AA/AF Enable anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering. Textures should now look better and objects more smooth. Haven't seen any real benefits from using these, but they do seem to increase GPU usage, something must be happening.
Open: ~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main\autoexec.cfg
Add:
seta r_ext_multisample "16"
seta r_ext_texture_filter_anisotropic "16"
seta r_ext_max_anisotropy "16"

Default values in case you want to revert:
seta r_ext_multisample "0"
seta r_ext_texture_filter_anisotropic "0"
seta r_ext_max_anisotropy "2"

I combined these settings with settings in Nvidia Control Panel to allow AA/AF for ioWolfSP.x86.exe.






5. OPTIONAL (works without this tweak): Let application choose how high-DPI scaling is handled. Earlier versions of Win10 had ''Disable display scaling on high DPI', which has now been replaced with the feature explained below.
Right click: '~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\ioWolfSP.x86.exe'
Choose 'Properties' -> 'Compatibility'
Click 'Change high DPI settings'
Under 'High DPI scaling override'
Check 'Override high DPI scaling behavior.'
From 'Scaling performed by:' drop down choose 'Application'
Click OK
Click Apply
Click OK

NOTES:
All above settings can be applied in console (some wont retain after restart though). Notice /vid_restart needs to be run when /cg_fixedAspect is changed.
/com_maxfps 144
/cl_mouseAccel 0
/cg_fixedAspect 2
/vid_restart

If console won't open, then add the following to your autoexec.cfg:
seta sv_cheats "1"

6. Launch game from '~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\ioWolfSP.x86.exe', set your native screen resolution from Options, and start a new game to check that there is no screen stutter, zoom (FoV correct), mouse acceleration. If seems to be working, then you will now have accomplished vanilla RtCW with upgraded graphics.

7. Multiplayer
RtCW cd key is located in '~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main\rtcwkey', which you'll need to enter in MP mode to see server list. Launch MP from '~\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\ioWolfMP.x86.exe'

[ReVaL]

I recently switched to Linux Mint on one of my machines and had RealRTCW, which is the recommended new way of running RtCW with modern graphics working inside Bottles. Highly recommend it.

[AudioEmu]

Kresh, I believe they should work if you use protontricks to run an exe in your rtcw prefix

[kresh]

It works on Linux?

[Django]

Thank you.

[Neliz]

Hey i did something in the settings of the game itself and now anytime i try to open it its shows me the game files and just doesnt start its says something like " opera gl cant open'''

[Kind.]

@ ReVaL
Thanks for mentioning RealRtCW.
I get to play one of my old favorites again.
thank you!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1379630/RealRTCW/

[Kaboom]

I already just got the textures out of RealRtCW, although it's a great mod i can't play with steam overlay with it and i wanted to have 100% vanilla experience and i played the mod for a bit and too much is changed for me.

[ReVaL]

Hey, you should check out RealRtCW. Its got everything working with a click of a button.

[Kaboom]

Hey i just want to have vanilla game with higher textures and to be able to use steam overlay for screenshots in this game. Is there a way to do that?. I tried few combinations but it didn't work.

[autotechrob88]

im glad the instructions were revised for this mod, Moddb skips steps and this wont work with their instructions