Dude, trying to fire up a classic game like Driver: San Francisco on a modern PC can be a real trip—like trying to fit a square peg in a fancy, hexagonal hole. This game is old school cool, but it can be finicky. It's totally worth it, though, for that sweet, sweet '70s cop flick vibe and the wild 'Shift' mechanic.
Here’s the straight dope on how to get this gem cruising on your rig without blowing a gasket. Get ready to roll!
Step 1: Secure the Bag (The Game, That Is)
First things first, you gotta have the game. This is where things get a little tricky, like finding a clean gas station bathroom. Due to some expired music licenses, Ubisoft delisted Driver: San Francisco from most digital storefronts years ago.
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| How To Play Driver San Francisco On Pc |
1.1 The Physical Copy Hustle
This is the most solid way to go, if you can find one. You’re looking for a PC DVD-ROM copy of the game.
Hit up your local retro game stores. Maybe some dude on a dusty shelf has a forgotten copy.
Check online marketplaces. Be ready to shell out some dough, though, because this game is now a collector’s item.
Once you've snagged your copy, make sure the CD Key is inside. You’ll need it to activate the game on Ubisoft Connect (their game launcher, formerly Uplay).
1.2 Digital Ownership Check
If you were OG and bought it digitally back in the day on Steam or Uplay, you should still have access to it in your game library.
Fire up your Steam or Ubisoft Connect launcher. See if it's chilling in your game list. If it is, consider yourself lucky! That's a golden ticket right there.
Step 2: Clear the Lanes (System Prep)
Before you even think about installing, you need to make sure your machine is ready to handle this blast from the past. Even though your PC is probably a beast compared to what this game was built for, modern systems can get seriously confused by older software.
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
2.1 Check the Rig's Vitals
While Driver: SF is a classic, it’s not demanding by today's standards. Still, give this a quick once-over just to be sure:
Good news: If your PC was built this century, you’re probably rocking specs that blow the recommended requirements out of the water.
2.2 Pre-Install Housekeeping
Update your Graphics Drivers: This is a no-brainer for any game, old or new. Grab the latest drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
Install Necessary Redistributables: This game is from the DirectX 9.0c era. Make sure you have the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages installed (both x86 and x64 versions). Sometimes old games need old components to run right.
Step 3: Install the Beast and Tame the Lag
Time to get the game on your hard drive. If you're using a physical disc, this is mostly plug-and-play, but keep that Ubisoft Connect application running in the background—it's gonna want to authenticate.
3.1 Installation Headaches
Physical Disc: Pop it in, follow the prompts. It will likely force you to install and log into Ubisoft Connect to activate the game using your CD key. Don't lose that key, buddy!
Digital: If it’s in your Ubisoft or Steam library, just hit "Install" and let the launcher do the heavy lifting.
3.2 Solving the 30-Second Stutter (Crucial Fix!)
This is the big one. An infamous issue in the PC version is a nasty stutter or pause that happens every 30-40 seconds. It’s usually the game trying (and failing) to connect to old Ubisoft servers for authentication.
The Firewall Trick: This is the most common fix. You need to block the game's executable file from accessing the internet.
Open your Windows Firewall settings.
Find Outbound Rules and create a New Rule.
Select Program and browse to the Driver.exe file (usually in your Ubisoft or Steam game folder).
Select Block the connection for all profiles (Domain, Private, Public).
Name the rule something epic, like “Tanner’s Internet Blockade” and click Finish.
Poof! No more annoying server checks, and you can enjoy the single-player campaign stutter-free. Heads up: this will obviously block any multiplayer functionality, which is mostly defunct anyway.
Tip: Reread the opening if you feel lost.
3.3 Compatibility Mode Jive
If the game crashes on launch, you might need to throw it a bone with compatibility mode.
Right-click the Driver.exe file.
Go to Properties.
Click the Compatibility tab.
Check "Run this program in compatibility mode for" and try Windows 7 or even Windows Vista Service Pack 2. Sometimes the older the better!
Also, try checking "Run this program as an administrator" for good measure.
Step 4: Fine-Tuning for a Smooth Ride
You're in the game! But maybe it feels a little janky. Let's make this feel like a modern driver.
4.1 Graphics Settings Sweet Spot
Don't just crank everything to 'Ultra' and expect a perfectly smooth experience. Older game engines can sometimes get stressed out by modern GPUs, even with low settings.
Try turning V-Sync OFF in the game's settings. Sometimes V-Sync from the game conflicts with your GPU’s V-Sync, causing choppiness.
Set Anti-Aliasing (AA) lower in-game. Instead, force AA through your GPU control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software) for a cleaner, more stable look.
Resolution: Stick to your native display resolution (e.g., ).
4.2 Controller Setup (Highly Recommended)
Playing a driving game with a keyboard is like eating a steak with a spoon—it works, but it’s awkward.
Plug in an Xbox or PlayStation controller. The game should recognize it automatically.
If you run into issues, especially with modern controllers, you might need third-party software like DS4Windows for a PlayStation controller, or remapping software to ensure the analog triggers (gas/brake) are registering correctly. A common issue is the car only going because the game isn't reading the analog trigger depth correctly. Jiggle that controller cable, you might be surprised.
FAQ Questions and Answers
Tip: Don’t overthink — just keep reading.
How to Buy Driver: San Francisco Today?
Since it was delisted, your best bet is to find a physical PC copy that includes an unused CD key for activation on Ubisoft Connect.
How to Fix the Stuttering Issue?
The most reliable fix is to block the game's main executable (Driver.exe) from accessing the internet using your Windows Firewall. This prevents the game from hanging while trying to check old authentication servers.
How to Run Driver: SF on Windows 10 or 11?
You may need to run the game's executable in Compatibility Mode for an older OS like Windows 7, and always ensure you have the latest Visual C++ Redistributables installed.
How to get 60 FPS in Driver: San Francisco?
With modern hardware, you should easily hit . Ensure V-Sync is managed by your GPU driver (and not the in-game setting) and that you've closed all unnecessary background applications.
How to fix the "car won't go fast" bug?
This is often a controller issue. If your car won't go over , the game isn't reading your analog trigger as fully depressed. Use a controller remapping tool to adjust the sensitivity or dead zones of the triggers.
Tip: Don’t skip the details — they matter.
How to play Driver: SF multiplayer?
The official online servers for the game are shut down. Community efforts exist, but they are generally unreliable and require advanced setup, not recommended for casual play.
How to access the Director Mode videos?
The official platform for sharing in-game videos is no longer active. You can still use the Director Mode to record and edit videos locally, but sharing them requires manually uploading to platforms like YouTube.
How to install the game from the physical disc?
Insert the disc and follow the installer. It will guide you to install Ubisoft Connect and require you to input the unique CD key found inside the box to activate the game digitally on your account.
How to force better anti-aliasing (AA)?
Disable AA in the in-game graphics menu. Then, use your graphics card's control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software) to manually force a higher level of anti-aliasing for the game's executable.
How to skip the intro videos?
Check the game's installation folder for a file that contains the intro videos (often a folder named 'videos' or 'movies'). You can try deleting or renaming these files (like changing intro.bik to intro.bak) to bypass them.
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