Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition

Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition

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Guide for stability for an over 15 years old but still brilliant Action-RPG in 2024 (& 2025:)
By HeyJoe-HUN-(SNAKE)PCRPGCommunity
DRAGON AGE ORIGINS MODDING

The bare minimum for stability (Since the game is like 15 years old now and no more official support, official updates.) to go to Nexus, get the essential fix, unofficial patch (Qwinn's fix pack), + 4 GB patch for the exe file, + DXVK memory leak fix. All you can get from the Nexus mod site. https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage

With these 3 modifications, tweaks the game should run much more reliable on modern HW + on the latest version of Win 11.

If it's still not enough, some may wanna try this mod, fix too: Automatically set CPU Affinity - CPU Core Crash Fix for Dragon Age Origins https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/6368 For me this fix was a must have too, since got 16 cores. Since no more crash for me with 160+ mods installed and active.

If ng. happens, still crash without even getting into the main menu of the game, you may already messed up some files for the game by following whatever previous guides earlier...

If that's the case, and the game doesn't boot at all from Steam, then try to uninstall via Steam, and after make sure no folders left with some mod files, delete all game folders if there is still any after the uninstall via Steam. YES, on C drive too within the documents/BioWare/DA folder or wherever stored for you on the C drive... Some have within the ONEDRIVE folder actually...)

When you sure you totally cleared the game, then start to redownload and reinstall the Ultimate Edition of DA via Steam. If again ng. happens, you can verify the files via Steam. If sg. is missing, Steam client will download for you. Then apply all 3 mods at least I mentioned above.

I play this Steam version of Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition on highest graphics settings on the latest version of Windows 11 with also the latest version of driver for my RTX 4070 without any issues since I installed all the 4 mods mentioned above. Hope it's helps for others as well, have fun, game ON! :)

NOTE: This is a guide for players, who doesn't really want to mess with mods, just want to be able to run and enjoy the game. For a full modding guide, check out this video for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeTkPTkGInE
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Guide for stability for an over 15 years old but still brilliant Action-RPG in 2024
The bare minimum for stability (Since the game is like 15 years old now and no more official support, official updates.) to go to Nexus, get the essential fix, unofficial patch (Qwinn's fix pack), + 4 GB patch for the exe file, + DXVK memory leak fix. All you can get from the Nexus mod site. https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage

About 4GB patch: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5989

Q's fix: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/4689

Memory leak fix: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/6435

With these 3 modifications, tweaks the game should run much more reliable on modern HW + on the latest version of Win 11.

If it's still not enough, some may wanna try this mod, fix too: Automatically set CPU Affinity - CPU Core Crash Fix for Dragon Age Origins https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/6368 For me this fix was a must have too, since got 16 cores. Since no more crash for me with 160+ mods installed and active.

If ng. happens, still crash without even getting into the main menu of the game, you may already messed up some files for the game by following whatever previous guides earlier...

If that's the case, and the game doesn't boot at all from Steam, then try to uninstall via Steam, and after make sure no folders left with some mod files, delete all game folders if there is still any after the uninstall via Steam. YES, on C drive too within the documents/BioWare/DA folder or wherever stored for you on the C drive... Some have within the ONEDRIVE folder actually...)

When you sure you totally cleared the game, then start to redownload and reinstall the Ultimate Edition of DA via Steam. If again ng. happens, you can verify the files via Steam. If sg. is missing, Steam client will download for you. Then apply all 3 mods at least I mentioned above.

I play this Steam version of Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition on highest graphics settings on the latest version of Windows 11 with also the latest version of driver for my RTX 4070 without any issues since I installed all the 4 mods mentioned above. Hope it's helps for others as well, have fun, game ON! :)

NOTE: For the best experience (even if you want just to play the vanilla game) please install this mod as well:
FtG UI Mod - More Readable Fonts and UI https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/73 With this mod, the texts will be easily readable on any resolutions. You can adjust the text size for your taste with this mod, plus you can decide, choose where should be the subtitle for the game... So, for example originally subtitles on the top of the screen but with this mod you can add them to the bottom of the screen.


A few screenshots and videos from my recent gameplay sessions:










NOTE #2: This is a guide for players, who doesn't really want to mess with mods, just want to be able to run and enjoy the game with the vanilla experience. For a full modding guide, check out this video for example:
(Also don't forget to check out the video's link for a full guide for hundreds of mods.)
15 Comments
HeyJoe-HUN-(SNAKE)PCRPGCommunity  [author] 17 Mar @ 5:00pm 
Happy to help!:)
johann.knigge 2 Feb @ 12:08pm 
Thank you - your guide is very helpful.
HeyJoe-HUN-(SNAKE)PCRPGCommunity  [author] 2 Feb @ 5:18am 
UPDATE: ...Added more direct links to the mentioned mods in the guide.
HeyJoe-HUN-(SNAKE)PCRPGCommunity  [author] 2 Feb @ 5:14am 
@johann.knigge You may wanna visit this page: https://www.nexusmods.com/dragonage/mods/5989
johann.knigge 1 Feb @ 10:29am 
I cannot find the LAA 4 GB patch anywhere.
HeyJoe-HUN-(SNAKE)PCRPGCommunity  [author] 27 Jan @ 6:58pm 
@Franco Nice, & thanks for the feedback! :cozybethesda::steamthumbsup:
Ruffntuff 27 Jan @ 1:26am 
Thanks and I up-voted your guide. The only advice I followed was to replace the encrypted steam daorigins.exe file and patch the decrypted version. This worked for me and I am now playing with zero freezes, errors or crashes. :steamthumbsup:
HeyJoe-HUN-(SNAKE)PCRPGCommunity  [author] 2 Jan @ 6:40am 
Yeah, I tested only on Windows 11 + with latest updates and this guide doesn't help for players with very old PCs, low-end sys. configs, etc. I wrote this for players like me with modern/latest SW/OS+HW.
Mr.House 22 2 Jan @ 5:49am 
sadly too finicky and even after trying doesn't work for every system RIP.
HeyJoe-HUN-(SNAKE)PCRPGCommunity  [author] 29 Dec, 2024 @ 4:58am 
Well, sometimes an OS restart can make magic happen, true! :D At least, your problem is solved, nice. :)