Almost a decade after its release, Bethesda has fixed the PC version of Fallout 3 on Steam by releasing a new patch that removes Windows Live.
After more than a decade, Bethesda has officially released a patch removing Games For Windows Live from the PC version of Fallout 3 on Steam, making the title once more easily accessible. Bethesda added all of its titles to the Xbox Game Pass service with the inclusion of Fallout 3 during the summer. However, even with Xbox’s subscription service on the PC, it was still deemed broken for several players and laborious due to being forced to download 43 GBs of localized directories for the game. This made the GOG version the only way to effortlessly experience the post-apocalyptic RPG on PC.
Bethesda’s Fallout 3 launched in 2008 and introduced the Fallout universe to 3D graphics and real-time gameplay in an open world, breaking previous installments’ trend of relying on a 2D isometric gameplay style. The title followed the same basic formula for open-world sandbox games but focused on its own traditional experience with distinct locations, the vitality of its inhabitants, and an immersive tone that blended well with nonlinear gameplay. The 3D post-apocalyptic RPG sold more than the studio’s previous games, and the many installments in the Fallout series that followed afterward expanded upon its formula.
As explained in its official patch notes update on Steam, reported by PC Gamer, Fallout 3 has officially been updated to version 1.7.04, removing all Games For Windows Live (GFWL) service dependencies almost 12 years later and making the game easily accessible without requiring annoying workarounds. The small 5.4MB patch requires players to uninstall and reinstall the game for the patch to fully take effect. While this is exhilarating news for players who’ve been wanting to play the title and haven’t been able to since the launch of Windows 10, the minor update does open up another problem. According to Youtuber Juicehead, the minor patch that was aimed at fixing the title on Steam has also broken games for those who play with mods. Fallout 3‘s Script Extender, used to expand modding capabilities no longer works, due to the latest version being 1.7.03. This is concerning because FOS hasn’t been updated for more than a decade and its creators are no longer around.
Watch Juicehead’s video on the new Fallout 3 update on YouTube here.
GFWL was originally intended to unify cross-platform compatibility for Windows and Xbox 360 but it was discontinued in 2014. A lot of developers that supported Games for Windows Live removed the integration for its games over time, while some left their PC versions unaltered. One prime example is Rockstar Games, as the developers replaced the GFWL version of Grand Theft Auto 4 with their own launcher and updated the game outside of Steam, making it impossible to play the game on Valve’s digital storefront.
Fallout 3‘s Steam version has finally been updated after almost 12 years, and players can finally enjoy the classic post-apocalyptic RPG without experiencing any technical difficulties from Games for Windows Live. While its modding capabilities are now considered broken due to a powerful extension tool being defunct, the modding community is expected to create an alternative for the post-apocalyptic adventure sometime in the future.
Fallout 3 is available on PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and the Xbox Game Pass.
Source: Steam, PC Gamer, Juicehead/Youtube
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