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When I launch "Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind" from Steam, it pops up a launcher that looks like this:

Launcher

If I go into "Options", I can change the resolution from 1024x768 (default) to 1400x1050 (still tiny, but not as bad as the default):

Changing resolution

But when I start the game, it launches at 1024x768, and I have the go back into the Options from the main menu and reselect the resolution. My choices from the launcher don't appear to ever be honored, and my chosen resolution always resets between launches. (And since this game crashes to desktop often on Windows 10, constantly going into the Options menu and setting it becomes tedious.)

Is there some way to make this resolution sticky, possibly by futzing around with an ini file or maybe a Steam launcher commandline argument?

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    Not strictly speaking an answer to your question, but I can only recommend taking a look at the open-source engine reimplementation OpenMW, that is already feature-complete enough to allow playing the full game. It offers many more options than the original engine. Commented Feb 28, 2022 at 10:46
  • You didn't finish 'installing' Morrowind. - EXE's that should be in the directory when you're done: MGEXEgui, MWSE, MorrowindCodePatch. - And the only one that needs to run as administrator is the patch. - Disable Steam Overlay, or even better, don't use Steam. Commented Feb 28, 2022 at 16:54
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    @Mazura I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't play with mods on initial play through and afaik those never shipped with the game. Commented Feb 28, 2022 at 16:58
  • Same as the answer below except forgo FPS, and add the patch. Might as well set up for mods with MWSE because MGEXE is going to ask you where that is when you install it. "this game crashes to desktop often on Windows 10" - not on mine, with all of that. Commented Feb 28, 2022 at 17:06
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    For playing the base game without mods, OpenMW is excellent, as it is the same, but with no loading/lag and stuff like scaling and modern resolutions. Just drop the EXE in the folder and launch from that, afaik. Commented Feb 28, 2022 at 18:31

1 Answer 1

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I don't know why the launcher settings aren't getting saved, but I can imagine Steam somehow obstructs this.

In any case, the resolutions of Morrowind are set in its registry entry — not in an .ini file — so changing it is a bit harder than editing a straightforward(ish) text file.

Still, the steps are provided here:

You can also set any custom resolution by hand: (Note that Morrowind must be fully launched at least one time for these registry settings to be viewable)

Press Windows+R on keyboard, then type regedit in the box that opens.
Locate the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind (for 64-bit Windows system, locate HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind).
On the right pane, you will see several numerical values. Double-click on "Screen Height" and "Screen Width", and set them to values you wish to use (e.g. 1050 and 1400, respectively).

In Windows 7 64-bit, these same registry values can be found at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Bethesda Softworks\Morrowind.

Do note that without any third-party mods or plugins the game will only allow for 4:3 aspect ratios.

To circumvent that limitation, and make the entire process easier, there are some plugins that give you a graphic interface to tweak these and many more settings:

Also, take a look at this post and this guide. The first one is for general optimizations, the second to overhaul and mod the graphics. It's unrelated to the question, but might dramatically improve your experience.

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    MGE XE needs "Morrowind Code Patch if you want to use MWSE." (which you have dig up on github these days) which does not work with OpenMW (meaning you can either have that, or basically every other mod that exists - you kinda have to decide that while you're installing MGE) - I don't use FPS anymore. I got distant land to work again (after a fresh install) and a few mods going, and it works fine. But I definitely have better than "Any graphics card made since 2009 or so" - OP's card is Intel HD360 from 2016. Commented Feb 28, 2022 at 16:34

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