Fallout 3 on Linux: Notes & Tips

Game Information

Title	Fallout 3
Year	2008
Developer	Bethesda Game Studios
Graphics API	DirectX 9
Audio API	DirectSound 3D

Runtime Environment

• Wine: 9.0
• DXVK: 2.7.1
• Prefix Architecture: 64-bit

Winetricks Components

• vcrun2022
• arial
• fontsmooth=rgb
• dsound
• openal
• lavfilters

Mods

• Stewie Tweaks – Nexus Mods
• Unofficial Fallout 3 ESM Patcher – Nexus Mods
• ButcherPete FOSE – Nexus Mods
• FOSE Command Extender – Nexus Mods
• Fallout Anniversary Patcher – Nexus Mods
• Fallout Script Extender (FOSE) – Nexus Mods
• Updated Unofficial Fallout 3 Patch – Nexus Mods
• Ogg Vorbis Libraries – Nexus Mods (New Vegas Nexus, compatible with Fallout 3)

Fallout Anniversary Patcher Features

• 4GB Patch
• Auto-load FOSE when using Fallout3.exe
• Fix file handle limit and mod limit bug
• Remove xlive.dll usage

Performance Settings

• iNumHWThreads: Controls CPU cores used by the game.
  • Default: 2
  • Recommended: 4 or 6 (improves performance)
• Reference: Tale of Two Wastelands Forum

Audio Fixes

• Music not playing:
  • Install lavfilters via Winetricks
• Enable 3D spatial audio (EAX support):
  • Restoring 3D Spatial Sound with DSOAL
  • DLL Override required: dsound.dll

Stability Tips

• Set maximum FPS to 60
• With DXVK, set FPS limit using environment variable:
  • DXVK_FRAME_RATE=58
• Enable HUD showing DXVK version and FPS:
  • DXVK_HUD=fps,version,scale=0.8

Mouse Issues

Mouse Not Showing in Menu

• Fix: Change setting in FalloutPrefs.ini
  • bDisable360Controller=1

Disable Mouse Acceleration

• Navigate to: Documents → My Games → Fallout 3
• Locate or create FalloutCustom.ini
• Add under [Controls]:

fForegroundMouseAccelBase=0
fForegroundMouseAccelTop=0
fForegroundMouseBase=0
fForegroundMouseMult=0

See Also

• Fallout New Vegas on Linux: Notes & Tips
• Fallout 3 on MobyGames