DSfix

⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (62,928 endorsements) 📥 2.7M downloads 📌 v2.4 📅 9/18/2012
⚪ Last updated 2015

By Durante · Utilities

⬇ Download Mod Source: Nexus Mods ↗ 📅 Updated: 1/28/2015 📅 Created: 9/18/2012

🔍 Analysis

  • 👍 2.3% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
  • 🏆 #1 of 43 Utilities mods in this game by downloads

📋 About This Mod

What is it?

It's an interception DINPUT8.dll that you place in the same folder as the game executable. It intercepts the game's calls to the DirectX 9 API and changes them as necessary to enable a higher internal rendering resolution and various other features.

How do I use it?

1) Delete previous version of the mod if you have any 2) Place the contents of the .zip into the game's binary directory. (The place where DARKSOULS.exe is) (this may be something like C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Dark Souls Prepare to Die Edition\DATA) 3) Adjust the settings in DSfix.ini as desired 4) Adjust the keybindings in DSfixKeys.ini as desired IMPORTANT: turn OFF the in-game AA option, otherwise you will get graphical issues See DSfixKeys.ini for a list of keybindable actions, including screenshots.

Will it work?

As of version 1. 4, it seems to work well for many people, however your mileage may vary. I can not and will not guarantee that it will work for anyone else, or not have any adverse effect on your game/computer. Use at your own risk!

Are there known issues?

- At vertical resolutions higher than 720 the sun may not be rendered correctly under some circumstances. This is under investigation, any insight is appreciated. - When using custom HUD settings some things are still not handled correctly (e.g. curse symbol), and the HUD may revert to default spontaneously. - When using the unlocked framerate feature, collision detection may not work correctly, particularly when sliding down ladders.

Will it cause performance problems?

That depends on your system configuration. Usually, performance scales rather linearly with framebuffer size, and so far this game does not seem different. My 660 maintains a locked 30 FPS throughout the majority the game at 2560x1440 with SMAA and SSAO.

How can I contribute?

The source code is now available on github under the terms of the GPL: https://github.com/PeterTh/dsfix Read the developer documentation there to find out how you can contribute, or contact me directly.

It crashes, help!

First, make sure that the .ini files are present in the correct location. Additionally, the "dsfix" folder should be in that same location. Turn off tools such as MSI Afterburner or other overlays that manipulate D3D. Then try restoring the default settings in the .ini file If you are using the framerate unlock feature,  disable Windows "Data Execution Prevention". If none of these help then check if the problem still occurs when you remove/rename DINPUT8.dll Finally, try rebooting If the
🤖 AI-enhanced — based on mod data

DSfix by Durante is a wrapper DLL for Dark Souls that unlocks rendering resolution, improves depth of field, adds SSAO and SMAA, and provides HUD/mouse toggles and screenshots. With 62,928 endorsements and 2.7M downloads, it's a widely adopted fix for the original PC port's graphical limitations. Last updated 2015, it remains highly regarded.

✨ Key Features

Unlocks adjustable rendering resolution for Dark Souls.
Improves the quality of the game's depth of field effect.
Adds SSAO and SMAA anti-aliasing options.
Toggle key to hide/show the mouse cursor and HUD.
Built-in screenshot capture.

📊 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

  • Massive community backing with 62,928 endorsements and 2.7M downloads — this is the go-to fix.
  • Brings modern visual options (higher resolution, SSAO, SMAA, better DoF) to an otherwise barebones port.
  • Simple wrapper DLL — drop it in and instantly get more control over the game's rendering.

⚠️ Cons

  • Last updated in 2015 — abandoned, so no fixes for newer Windows versions or driver updates.
  • SSAO and SMAA can reduce frame rates, especially on older hardware from the Dark Souls era.
  • As a wrapper DLL, it can conflict with other injectors or overlays like ReShade or Discord.
🎯 Is This For You?
For Dark Souls PC players who want to unlock the game's internal resolution and add modern visual effects like SSAO and SMAA. It's purely a rendering utility — skip if you're looking for gameplay changes or content additions. If you still play the original PC port, this is the first mod to install.
📦 Install:Easy· Under 5 minutes

💡 Beginner Tips

  • Edit DSfix.ini with a text editor to set your desired render resolution — the in-game menu still shows the old locked options.
  • Use the toggle key (default F9) to hide the HUD for cleaner screenshots.
  • If you use ReShade or other overlays, test DSfix alone first to rule out conflicts.

📊 Mod Details

Game
Darksouls Mods
Author
Durante
Version
2.4
Downloads
2,745,149
Endorsements
62,928
Category
Utilities
Created
9/18/2012
Updated
1/28/2015

🧩 Commonly Used Together

Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.

🔧 How to Install Dark Souls Mods

Download from Nexus Mods.

📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Dark Souls →

Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.

🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Dark Souls commands, item IDs, and more.

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