Just Cause 2 doesn't support Windows XP?

A look at the minimum system requirements for the upcoming blockbuster Just Cause 2 shows that the title won't work on installations of Windows XP. This would represent one of the first high profile releases not to be supported by the still-popular Microsoft operating system. The requirements specifies that an operating system newer than XP is required, and provides a hint why.

The game requires at least DirectX 10. Windows XP can only officially go as far as DirectX 9, meaning that gamers would need to be using Windows Vista or Windows 7 to play the game. A recent hardware/software survey from Steam showed that 42.15 percent of its users were in fact still running the Windows XP operating system, although Windows 7 was becoming popular very fast.

Of course, there have been several methods used to install DirectX 10 on Windows XP since it was launched, none of which are supported by Microsoft and several of which have no support from their original authors either. So maybe it is "technically" possible to run it on Windows XP, but it is a shame that users should have to install a hacked DirectX 10 package and probably patch the game files themselves to play it on Windows XP.

Amazon.com incorrectly lists XP as supported in search results.
Minimum System Requirements

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7 (Windows XP is unsupported)
Processor: Dual-core CPU with SSE3 (Athlon 64 X2 4200 / Pentium D 3GHz)
Graphics Card: Nvidia Geforce 8800 Series / ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro with 256MB memory or equivalent DX10 card with 256MB memory
Memory: 2GB RAM
DirectX: Microsoft DirectX 10
Hard Drive: 10GB of free drive space
Optical Drive: DVD-ROM drive
Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 compatible sound card
Internet Connection: Internet connection required for product activation
Input: Keyboard and mouse (Microsoft Xbox 360 controller optional)

Recommended System Setup

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7 (Windows XP is unsupported)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6GHz or AMD Phenom X3 2.4GHz
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 Series with 512MB / ATI Radeon HD 5750 Series with 512MB or equivalent DX10 card with 512MB memory
Memory: 3GB
DirectX: Microsoft DirectX 10.1 with Vista SP1
Hard Drive: 10GB of free drive space
Optical Drive: DVD-ROM drive
Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 compatible Dolby Digital 5.1 sound card
Internet Connection: Internet connection required for product activation
Input: Keyboard and mouse (Xbox 360 controller optional)

Written by: James Delahunty @ 24 Feb 2010 5:25

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57 comments

Josipher

well people who still have xp should make the transition into win7 directly..they didnt have to go through the beta AKA vista as it was named by microsoft

24.2.2010 06:20 #1

scum101

josepher you are a retard.. win7 is the same spyware bollocks everything else they have made this decade is ..

upgrade at once by all means.. to FOSS operating systems.. give monopolies and their apologists and fanboys the finger..

hahahaha

josipher.. win7 fanboy and M$ sheep .. bend over joe.. Bill's coming..

24.2.2010 07:03 #2

xnonsuchx

Perhaps M$ is paying developers to support Vista/Win7 only? There's certainly no NEED for it.

24.2.2010 08:07 #3

NeoandGeo

This is great news. This will help propel basically a console generation leap on the PC side of things by ditching DX9. I have Win7 and await more games to look like more than an upscaled 360 port with higher resolution textures. :D

24.2.2010 08:59 #4

Hopium

scum101 linux fanboy and social inept who likes playing 10 year old games in opengl.

24.2.2010 09:50 #5

ZippyDSM

Well...no XP support?.... its not a blockbuster then.

24.2.2010 11:00 #6

Moomoo2

Well, since no one has heard of or played the original Just Cause, I assumed this won't really matter too much.

In case you're curious, here's a link to demo... Woo, rip roaring fun. http://www.mofunzone.com/download_games/just_cause.shtml

edit: added link

24.2.2010 11:54 #7

pirkster

Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Well...no XP support?.... its not a blockbuster then.They likely realize this going in, therefore that's why they've chosen to develop on a limited platform. May reach fewer customers, but requires less overhead/development cost by not having to ensure the game runs on older/outdated OS.

XP dropped into a "reduced support" phase back in April of 2009 already. Full support won't drop until 2014, but you get the point. XP is on it's way out regardless how many folks it will anger/leave behind. (...just like every version of Windows at one time or another...)

24.2.2010 13:47 #8

windsong

The Just Cause devs must be really hard up for money these days. The XP base is far larger than that for Vista/W7. I tried W7 for a month and found everything to run far slower. A lot of my fav apps didn't work, or would just crash. Sometimes they would disappear from the sys tray. And I hated how they butchered windows explorer. Everything took an extra 2 clicks to navigate window panes. Not to mention, no classic taskbar, the stupid, inane search bar on the start menu, no classic explorer, bloated interface, slower game performance, and dosbox had problems.

No thanks.

24.2.2010 14:10 #9

tucker001

I think this is actually good its time for people with XP to move on, Windows 7 is superior to any version of Windows. This is nothing new that Microsoft is doing they have dropped support for 95, ME, and in 6 months they are dropping 2000. And guess whats next WINDOWS XP!!

24.2.2010 14:58 #10

jony218

Lets see get rid of XP to play a "lackluster" game? decisions decisions.
I'll move to Vista ME (aka windows seven) when I'm ready to jump the shark. Not anytime soon.

24.2.2010 15:12 #11

ps3lvanub

Originally posted by Hopium: scum101 linux fanboy and social inept who likes playing 10 year old games in opengl.scum ain't a gamer I don't think... How can you say she is a social inept when you don't even know her... THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!!!

24.2.2010 15:54 #12

IPRFenix

Quote:This would represent one of the first high profile releases not to be supported by the still-popular Microsoft operating system.
Halo2 would like to have a word with you. Almost 3 years ago too. And might I add, that IS a MUCH higher profile game release than this one.

I find it both unfortunate and silly that directx 10 was never officially added/supported by XP. Because it is perfectly capable of running it. Unfortunately, without the official support it becomes a massive hassle / pain in the ass to hack it in. Not really worth the trouble.

24.2.2010 15:58 #13

pirkster

Originally posted by tucker001: I think this is actually good its time for people with XP to move on, Windows 7 is superior to any version of Windows. This is nothing new that Microsoft is doing they have dropped support for 95, ME, and in 6 months they are dropping 2000. And guess whats next WINDOWS XP!!Agree.

Windows 7 is terrific. There were plenty of upgrade deals when it came out, particularly if you were a student.

I'd wager many here who have chosen to stay XP don't have a legitimate copy of XP and are waiting for a "cracked" win7 to step up from the stone age.

24.2.2010 16:20 #14

Dela

Quote:Quote:This would represent one of the first high profile releases not to be supported by the still-popular Microsoft operating system.
Halo2 would like to have a word with you. Almost 3 years ago too. And might I add, that IS a MUCH higher profile game release than this one.

I find it both unfortunate and silly that directx 10 was never officially added/supported by XP. Because it is perfectly capable of running it. Unfortunately, without the official support it becomes a massive hassle / pain in the ass to hack it in. Not really worth the trouble.Hence the expression "one of the first".

24.2.2010 16:42 #15

Josipher

24.2.2010 16:45 #16

wibbley

Have a dual boot system Windows XP and Windows 7
I still have to use Windows Xp to install my 8 year old sons games
House of the Dead
Scooby Doo Glowing bug man
As examples
Do not work on Vista
Do not work on Windows 7
Even with the wonderful! compatability wizard
When Microsoft sort there act out and get older games to work on there new operating systems people might swap but until then i will stick to XP
Windows 7 (Hacked) works at the moment will wait until March 1st to see if it keeps going.

24.2.2010 16:50 #17

ddp

knock it off everybody on the snide comments!!

24.2.2010 16:55 #18

wibbley

Love the feel of Windows 7
Love the look of Windows 7
compatability ?
I don't know the game but don't forget XP users there are millions of us

24.2.2010 17:01 #19

hikaricor

lool

24.2.2010 17:21 #20

KSib

Doesn't support XP? No big deal. Windows 7 was real cheap for a while so if you didn't pick it up then too bad. If you're a PC gamer you should probably stay on top of these things... like when an entire OS is going to be phased out =/

24.2.2010 17:26 #21

wibbley

Yep I agree Windows 7 is cheap
but if it does not work with the games you have already paid for whats the point, and an 8 year old complaining that his favouite games do not work does not help
*plus nero 8 does not work with 7
*Acronis does not work with 7
so you update the operating system for �70ish
then you update Nero (more money)
then you update Acronis (yet again more money)
Lots of money, you can't blame windows for that but everybody jumps on the bandwagon

24.2.2010 17:36 #22

flyingpen

I'm glad their not supporting a decade old operating system. Its time for people to move on from that sh*t OS.

24.2.2010 17:57 #23

wibbley

backwards compatability would be nice

24.2.2010 18:01 #24

i1der

Windows 7 is awesome... But i do still dual boot, Xp... is not like u loose the Xp when u upgrade...

24.2.2010 19:24 #25

lissenup2

Originally posted by scum101: josepher you are a retard.. win7 is the same spyware bollocks everything else they have made this decade is ..

upgrade at once by all means.. to FOSS operating systems.. give monopolies and their apologists and fanboys the finger..

hahahaha

josipher.. win7 fanboy and M$ sheep .. bend over joe.. Bill's coming..Man......how you became a senior member boggles my mind. After this post and seeing your screen name......I'm surprised you can read. Usually the ability to read coincides with articulating sentences............................which you did not do here as it makes very little sense.

First, the original poster showed no indication about being a fanboy. So you made yourself look like an ass about that.

Second, and I will say this slowly since you're a Brit..................WINDOWS ISN'T SPYWARE. Never has been and never will be. Other apps are "spyware" so again.......lookin' like an ass..........or as you would say "arse".

Third.......never heard of FOSS operating systems so clarify your crypto talk or save it.

Fourth......who's an "apologist"? That would be one whom apologizes. Can't recall MS or any of their employees/reps being an "apologist".

Fifth...IF YOU DON'T LIKE MS...................THEN GO USE SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH 5 PERCENT OF THE REST OF THE WORLD.

Your knocking of MS means you're sh*t talking 95 percent of the computing population.

Good grief.........people like you clearly should never be in politics as you're irrational, a bad decision maker and not objective and should NEVER be allowed to make decisions for anyone else..........GOD help your kids.

24.2.2010 19:31 #26

ddp

lissenup2, read this as is obvious you didn't read it before.
Quote:knock it off everybody on the snide comments!!

24.2.2010 20:08 #27

xnonsuchx

Originally posted by IPRFenix: I find it both unfortunate and silly that directx 10 was never officially added/supported by XP. Because it is perfectly capable of running it. Unfortunately, without the official support it becomes a massive hassle / pain in the ass to hack it in. Not really worth the trouble.It's especially stupid since DX10 was DEVELOPED UNDER XP...M$ just decided to ONLY put it in Vista (and higher) as a selling point to upgrade to a new OS. Almost anyone who works in Windows development at M$ can attest to that. Like Vista, Win7 is mainly 'selling' well because of brisk new computer sales (despite the economy)...there still aren't tons of people upgrading their existing OSes to it (though a bit more than w/ Vista).

24.2.2010 22:05 #28

UkWizard

Windows 7 soon is the way for all, it's only a matter of time before xp is dropped but I can see xp lasting a few more years yet. As for the makers of this game, it does not surprise me, they are going down hill fast within the last few months

24.2.2010 22:05 #29

blueboy09

Originally posted by tucker001: I think this is actually good its time for people with XP to move on, Windows 7 is superior to any version of Windows. This is nothing new that Microsoft is doing they have dropped support for 95, ME, and in 6 months they are dropping 2000. And guess whats next WINDOWS XP!! agreed, it's time to move on people! There's no reason what so ever to dwell in the past's fears, and to stifle what's ahead for the future.

Life is about walking on thin ice, if you make too much drama, youll crack under pressure. - BLUEBOY

24.2.2010 22:09 #30

ntense69

i don't see as this a surprise is phasing out xp gradually and everyone will have to go with vista or 7 shortly or the next os released who knows might be a work around for it

25.2.2010 00:26 #31

vontratt

It is far easier to develop something with a tighter range of OS support. Let XP die OK?

25.2.2010 00:29 #32

ivymike

"The game requires at least DirectX 10. Windows XP can only officially go as far as DirectX 9,"

IIRC, there is a modified unofficial hacked version of DX10 that works on XP.

25.2.2010 00:40 #33

veyron

Not interested in paying $120 for win7! XP works great and I see no reason for the headache's that come with incompatibility probs

Nothing against Directx10 btw. It works fine on my rig..

Think I'll just be passing on any game that decides to leave this huge demographic (XP) out to dry!

25.2.2010 03:08 #34

xnonsuchx

Originally posted by ivymike: "The game requires at least DirectX 10. Windows XP can only officially go as far as DirectX 9,"

IIRC, there is a modified unofficial hacked version of DX10 that works on XP.Did you miss the last paragraph that said as much?

25.2.2010 03:52 #35

scorpNZ

Quote:Originally posted by tucker001: I think this is actually good its time for people with XP to move on, Windows 7 is superior to any version of Windows. This is nothing new that Microsoft is doing they have dropped support for 95, ME, and in 6 months they are dropping 2000. And guess whats next WINDOWS XP!!Agree.

Windows 7 is terrific. There were plenty of upgrade deals when it came out, particularly if you were a student.

I'd wager many here who have chosen to stay XP don't have a legitimate copy of XP and are waiting for a "cracked" win7 to step up from the stone age.W7 doesn't need to be cracked to work,chew wga or removeWAT see's to that..lmao

25.2.2010 04:22 #36

Hard

Quote:Originally posted by tucker001: I think this is actually good its time for people with XP to move on, Windows 7 is superior to any version of Windows. This is nothing new that Microsoft is doing they have dropped support for 95, ME, and in 6 months they are dropping 2000. And guess whats next WINDOWS XP!!Agree.

Windows 7 is terrific. There were plenty of upgrade deals when it came out, particularly if you were a student.

I'd wager many here who have chosen to stay XP don't have a legitimate copy of XP and are waiting for a "cracked" win7 to step up from the stone age.lol, who needs to wait for a hacked copy? Anyone who knows where to look can already get a perfectly working one.

25.2.2010 07:16 #37

avoidz

Originally posted by flyingpen: I'm glad their not supporting a decade old operating system. Its time for people to move on from that sh*t OS.XP was never sh*t. You must be under 20.

25.2.2010 08:15 #38

IguanaC64

Microsoft's licensing scheme is very unfavorable to those wanting to legally run Windows and build their own systems. I tend to upgrade my computer yearly. If you buy the cheap (OEM) versions of Windows 7, you are required by microsoft to purchase Windows 7 *again* if you upgrade your motherboard/CPU. So you end up paying 2x the cost of the "oem" version for a "retail" version if you want the ability to use the operating system on your new computer. The Home version is useless to me because I protect my files with user permissions to keep my kids from browsing to some of my movies that might have more violence or sex than I really want them watching. I also set up user shares so that my family can store their documents and not have everyone in the house casually browsing into their stuff. The argument that Windows 7 is cheap is only valid if you think $180+tax/shipping is pocket change ($179 is the cost @ Newegg for Home Retail). The average person does not. The average person has bills to pay/family to support.

So don't look at the cheap prices for Windows 7 unless you don't upgrade your PC or you're violating your OEM license. I prefer to spend my money making my PC faster/more efficient. Don't argue legality if you're violating your OEM terms.

DirectX10 was Microsoft's way to force gamers to buy a new operating system they didn't need because they identified gamers as single with a lot of disposable income and because they saw an opportunity to squeeze gamers for more cash. I can't speak for Windows 7, because I haven't had the opportunity to sit down with it, but I use Vista and have seen zero reason to use it over WinXP other than eye candy. This wasn't the case with Windows 9x to the Windows 2000 move. Win2k was a vastly superior product to Windows 9x. Win2k to Windows XP wasn't that big an upgrade and after a while there were plenty of cheap legal licenses of XP available...so it was ok to wait a few years to upgrade. Microsoft is upping the ante with DirectX10+ and I don't have any desire to reward them for it.

25.2.2010 10:24 #39

xnonsuchx

Quote:Originally posted by flyingpen: I'm glad their not supporting a decade old operating system. Its time for people to move on from that sh*t OS.XP was never sh*t. You must be under 20.Well, pre-SP1 had some crappiness...just like 'Vista 7' was significantly improved w/ Vista SP1 from it's original incarnation.

25.2.2010 16:05 #40

Win7Guy

Hello josepher,

This may help you out with your Just Cause 2 software:

Windows 7 Compatibility: (There you will find out about hardware and software compatibilty.)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/en-us/default.aspx
There is a pulldown from which you can choose "hardware" and "software".

There are also some great articles, instructional videos and such to help with your Windows 7 at our Springboard site:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/default.aspx

Thanks again,
John M.
Microsoft Windows Client Support

9.3.2010 19:39 #41

trisunky

Originally posted by Josipher: Originally posted by scum101: josepher you are a retard.. win7 is the same spyware bollocks everything else they have made this decade is ..

upgrade at once by all means.. to FOSS operating systems.. give monopolies and their apologists and fanboys the finger..

hahahaha

josipher.. win7 fanboy and M$ sheep .. bend over joe.. Bill's coming.. well judging by the other comments we can see whos the real inept retard fanboy here blondie.
win7 is one of the most innovative systems microsoft has ever made. as the other posts seem to agree with me i think whats best for you is to crawl back into your little hole and play some tetris on your stupid linux
only a true retard will name people who use the windows platform retards.but i guess you already know all about that
win7 is one of the most innovative systems microsoft has ever made
This is one hell of a sentence
What exactly is innovative on this POS, when its build on the same core as winxp, only with added features stolen from other OSes?

24.3.2010 15:23 #42

NeoandGeo

The only ones complaining about Win7 are the ones that don't use it. Enjoy your dwindling game supply. :D

24.3.2010 15:28 #43

trisunky

i had win7, it was working well, but only for a while, i understand its not easy to make an os for so many configurations, but just take a look at linuxes, and on top of that, they are build for free (a big part of it) for me the biggest innovation was 30gb in winsxs and increasing, and i had it installed for 2 months or so, thats really dumb feature :)

24.3.2010 15:51 #44

NeoandGeo

Luckily, most of us here don't fail at computing.

24.3.2010 15:53 #45

joe (unverified)

Win7 suffers from incompatibility. XP is the most stable of its bunch. Vista is failed OS. If you are in the IT industry you will know about this. A lot of driver on lots of hardware still does not have Win7. Microsoft is forcing us to upgrade to Win7. If thats the case, we need to upgrade our rig as well so that our mobo, graphic card, dvd-rom, lan adapter etc must be Win7 compatible and has a driver for Win7.

My graphic card i bought last year NVIDIA still does not have the Win7 driver yet. I had tested my rig with Win7 and it failed/crash/hang. Then I need to downgrade it back to WinXP. My advice to everyone do not upgrade to Win7 yet. Just because of DirectX10 or JustCause2 or other games coming out just for Win7. Its dumb. If you have the money then do upgrade but you need to upgrade your rig as well.

26.3.2010 00:08 #46

NeoandGeo

What programs are you having problems with, and what Nvidia card are you using? You sound like a mad little edited by ddp complaining without any real merit.

26.3.2010 05:33 #47

ddp

NeoandGeo, watch the comments as it will not be tolerated. post edited.

26.3.2010 14:24 #48

NeoandGeo

Owned. :D It would be easier if people would have sense before posting, then they wouldn't have to be disciplined in such an immature manner. :p

26.3.2010 14:29 #49

haldblah (unverified)

Ummmm .. hmmmmmmmm

http://blog.wolfire.com/2010/01/Why-you-...and-not-DirectX

27.3.2010 02:01 #50

Artael (unverified)

I don't care about the price of Windows 7. I tried it and it's a pain in the ass. XP is more fast and easy.

1.5.2010 14:03 #51

lizardkingCDXX (unverified)

Originally posted by KSib: Doesn't support XP? No big deal. Windows 7 was real cheap for a while so if you didn't pick it up then too bad. If you're a PC gamer you should probably stay on top of these things... like when an entire OS is going to be phased out =/ This is just a ploy to get people to buy this win7 P.O.S., 2 years from now when MS is through beta testing at consumers expense (same as they've done with Xp) and they finally get half the bugs out I might switch to win 7 (maybee)Don't be a sheep led on by planned obsolescence. I'm sure someone will come out with a workable patch for Xp soon enough

8.5.2010 14:39 #52

XP rocks (unverified)

I have both XP and W7 for my PC. Its true that W7 is the best OS ever made, but XP is superior compared Vista. That's make me wonder, why are they still supporting vista. It is the worst OS ever made. Microsoft should just dump it in the recycle bin.

2.8.2010 14:12 #53

aldan

im not a gamer so i have no opinion on this game not supporting xp.it is ,however interesting that when xp was the current op,you didnt hear near as many people calling it crap.now that win 7 is out,all of a sudden xp is the worst op in ms history?come on.while i agree that win 7 is,to all intents and purposes,an excellent op and we are going to have to embrace it sooner or later,lets not forget where it came from.

2.8.2010 14:47 #54

DJMan (unverified)

Originally posted by Josipher: well people who still have xp should make the transition into win7 directly..they didnt have to go through the beta AKA vista as it was named by microsoft I would love to, but if you could send me an external harddrive so I can backup all my files since windows 7 forgot to add the *upgrade* setting and formats all the shit. I have alot to backup to and don't see why I have to waste so much money on one game with newer games then this still support Xp.

Someday I'll be on windows 7 but im going to wait until prices drop. Not worth the prices in my opinion. But then again im not millionaire.

27.1.2011 10:18 #55

NeoandGeo

Windows.old folder. It backed up all my stuff on one machine I did the upgrade on. There really is no excuse.

27.1.2011 10:21 #56

WantedU (unverified)

First of all

This game is a shit nothing else ...
Windows XP is much better and
support more software & games yup it is a decade old OS but still
people not able to forget that OS... It is easier to use Windows XP Rather Then 7 ... If we use Windows 7 then we have to spend money on those software which works smoothly on Windows XP because Windows 7 also denied to support....
Microsoft forget that there are old games which run on XP but don't support Windows 7 that's a big problem in-front of this company
If we talk about Vista most people don't even know about Vista it. it is nearly a crap to install Vista... i hate this OS

14.9.2012 23:19 #57

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