Discovery Freelancer Mod Installation Guide

[DiscoveryGC Moderators]

Updated March 2025

Play Freelancer & Discovery

• Freelancer is an engaging, open world space game, released in 2003. Explore. Trade. Fight.
  
  
• Playing the offline story mode is best done with the HD Edition mod, released in 2021.
  
  
• Playing the online MMO experience is best done with the Discovery mod, released in 2006.
  

Need help or have any questions? Post in this thread or in our Discord.

Frequently Asked Questions Can I play Freelancer's story mode? Yes, if you install the HD Edition mod. This page is for Discovery. What is Discovery? An online role play server which expands on the events after Freelancers story mode. Adding in new assets and game play opportunities. Where can I find the Discovery launcher? Type "Discovery" into Windows to find the launcher. You must use the Discovery launcher to play Discovery. Why wont Discovery launch? Ensure any virus protection software hasn't blocked or removed Discovery files. Install Freelancer and Discovery with Window's admin permissions. Why can't I see the Discovery server in the list? Try manually installing DirectPlay + .NET framework. Ensure that you have VC redistributable installed on your machine https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x86.exe

Useful Links Server Rules - Brief rules that aim to make Discovery fun and fair for all. Discovery Navigation Map - Explore the systems, planets and stations in Discovery. Discovery Veteran Aid - Returning to Discovery? This will get you up to speed.

Old Installation Instructions

Detailed written instructions

1.1 - Your PC must be running the latest MICROSOFT .NET FRAMEWORK in order for the mod installer to work. Please download the latest version HERE.

1.2 - Please make sure your drivers are up to date. You can use free software such as CPU-Z to detect your hardware.

1.3 - Windows 10 users must additionally enable THESE FEATURES for the game to work correctly.

1.4 - Install the base Freelancer game from your CD or from an ISO file you can download HERE as a direct link or HERE as a torrent link (RECOMMENDED). Pre-Windows 10 users can install ISO files by using third party programs such as VIRTUAL CLONE DRIVE - Windows 10 users should be able to do this natively.

1.5 - The default installation folder should be under "?:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Freelancer" if you used a custom installation destination, make note of it as you will need to reference it during the mod installation.

1.6 - After installing the base game, it will have placed the game shortcut on your folder. You can delete it as it will not be used to launch the mod and the mod will overwrite the base game files anyway.

1.7 - After completing the installation, download the latest version of the Discovery Freelancer Mod from THIS LINK.

1.8 - Before launching the installer, temporarily disable your Antivirus as the anticheat mechanism used by Discovery may result in a false-positive detection and interfere with the installation process.

1.9 - Run the mod installer as an administrator and follow the instructions.

1.10 - The installer will prompt you to enter the location of your original Freelancer installation folder. Enter the location you took note of in step 1.5 as described above.

1.11 - After clicking NEXT, you will be prompted to choose additional components. The BLOOM EFFECT is a visual modification and may be enabled/disabled after installation ingame.

WARNING: THE BLOOM MOD PRODUCES A FLASHING SIDEEFFECT DURING THE GAME LAUNCH INTRO. IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM SEIZURES, DO NOT ENABLE BLOOM EFFECT!

1.12 - After clicking NEXT, you will be prompted to choose a destination folder for Discovery Mod. This folder must be separate from the base folder, such as "C:\Games"
DO NOT SELECT YOUR ORIGINAL FREELANCER FOLDER AS DESTINATION, IT WILL CORRUPT THE INSTALL!

1.13 - After clicking NEXT the mod will install itself under your chosen folder. After the installation process is complete, navigate yourself to the Discovery Freelancer Mod folder and locate the "DSLauncher.EXE" and create a desktop shortcut.

1.14 - The Discovery Mod can only be launched through this launcher. If you will launch the game via FREELANCER.EXE, you will not be able to connect to the multiplayer server.

1.15 - Within the launcher you can set the resolution and miscellaneous parameters of your game. It also will allow you to have multiple accounts as the maximum ship count per account is 7.

1.16 - Before joining the server, read and memorize the server rules. If you have any further questions - the HELP SECTION of our forums are open for all inquiries.

USEFUL LINKS:
Free version of the original Freelancer Game (Requires ISO mounting software): >>CLICK HERE<<
Mod Download: >>CLICK HERE<<

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Common problems & Easy solutions


1. Having a hard time finding the Discovery Launcher? Search it on Windows or find it within your Discovery files. You must use this launcher.

2. Temporarily disable your Antivirus as the anticheat mechanism used by Discovery may result in a false-positive detection and interfere with the installation process.

3. Do not select your original Freelancer folder as a destination when installing Discovery Freelancer. Doing so can corrupt the install.

4. Windows 10 users can open ISO files natively. Pre Windows 10 users can use WinRAR or other software.

Old guide

DISCOVERY FREELANCER 4.92
Full Installation Guide + Troubleshooting Thread

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1. Preparing your PC for installation

1.1 - Your PC must be running the latest MICROSOFT .NET FRAMEWORK in order for the mod installer to work. Please download the latest version HERE.

1.2 - Please make sure your drivers are up to date. You can use free software such as CPU-Z to detect your hardware.

1.3 - Windows 10 users must additionally enable THESE FEATURES for the game to work correctly.

1.4 - Install the base Freelancer game from your CD or from an ISO file you can download HERE as a direct link or HERE as a torrent link (RECOMMENDED). Pre-Windows 10 users can install ISO files by using third party programs such as VIRTUAL CLONE DRIVE - Windows 10 users should be able to do this natively.

1.5 - The default installation folder should be under "?:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Freelancer" if you used a custom installation destination, make note of it as you will need to reference it during the mod installation.

1.6 - After installing the base game, it will have placed the game shortcut on your folder. You can delete it as it will not be used to launch the mod and the mod will overwrite the base game files anyway.

1.7 - After completing the installation, download the latest version of the Discovery Freelancer Mod from THIS LINK.

1.8 - Before launching the installer, temporarily disable your Antivirus as the anticheat mechanism used by Discovery may result in a false-positive detection and interfere with the installation process.

1.9 - Run the mod installer as an administrator and follow the instructions.

1.10 - The installer will prompt you to enter the location of your original Freelancer installation folder. Enter the location you took note of in step 1.5 as described above.

1.11 - After clicking NEXT, you will be prompted to choose additional components. The BLOOM EFFECT is a visual modification and may be enabled/disabled after installation ingame.

WARNING: THE BLOOM MOD PRODUCES A FLASHING SIDEEFFECT DURING THE GAME LAUNCH INTRO. IF YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM SEIZURES, DO NOT ENABLE BLOOM EFFECT!

1.12 - After clicking NEXT, you will be prompted to choose a destination folder for Discovery Mod. This folder must be separate from the base folder, such as "C:\Games"
DO NOT SELECT YOUR ORIGINAL FREELANCER FOLDER AS DESTINATION, IT WILL CORRUPT THE INSTALL!

1.13 - After clicking NEXT the mod will install itself under your chosen folder. After the installation process is complete, navigate yourself to the Discovery Freelancer Mod folder and locate the "DSLauncher.EXE" and create a desktop shortcut.

1.14 - The Discovery Mod can only be launched through this launcher. If you will launch the game via FREELANCER.EXE, you will not be able to connect to the multiplayer server.

1.15 - Within the launcher you can set the resolution and miscellaneous parameters of your game. It also will allow you to have multiple accounts as the maximum ship count per account is 7.

1.16 - Before joining the server, read and memorize the server rules. If you have any further questions - the HELP SECTION of our forums are open for all inquiries.

USEFUL LINKS:
Free version of the original Freelancer Game (Requires ISO mounting software): >>CLICK HERE<<
Mod Download: >>CLICK HERE<<
Questions and Troubleshooting: >>CLICK HERE<<

Interactive Navmap

Discovery Freelancer WIKI
Server Rules
Ingame Roleplay Laws
For Returning Players

Old old Guide

.NET FRAMEWORK 4.0 OR HIGHER IS REQUIRED. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY WITHOUT IT.
If you have Windows 7 or above you should be fine, but in the event you want to be sure, you can download .Net Framework here from microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/...x?id=17718

DO NOT START FREELANCER VIA FREELANCER.EXE, USE DSLAUNCHER.EXE
Or you will potentially be banned due to mismatching versions.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
Download the setup and proceed with the installation. You will be required to have an original freelancer installation.

ATTENTION! Windows 10 users must not only install the mod with administrator rights, but also must manually enable NET Framework in their OS Settings. Please look at the tutorial HERE to see how. If you do not do this, the game will not launch!

When this is done, carry on and you will be asked where you want to install Discovery. Obviously do not install 4.88 in the same folder as 4.87.
When the setup is done, go to your programs list, go to Discovery Freelancer and click on Discovery Freelancer or alternatively, go to your installation folder and start DSLauncher.exe.
Wait for the Launcher to be done and when it is, a "Launch Game" button will appear. Click on it to play Discovery.

I GOT BANNED WHEN I JOINED THE SERVER
post in this thread http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=91864 and include your character name. NO CHARACTER NAME = NO SUPPORT

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- DOWNLOADS

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Vanilla Freelancer
You 'must' have the original version of Freelancer installed. The mod files are installed after you have this installed.
You can find a download link from the isozone here: https://files.cordilon.net/disco/Freelancer.iso

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DO NOT USE uTorrent. IT IS NOW BUNDLED WITH MALWARE. WE RECOMMEND qBittorrent WHICH IS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE.
You can download qBittorrent here: http://www.qbittorrent.org/download.php (use the Stable - SourceForge downloads for extra caution)

TORRENT (RECOMMENDED): http://discoverygc.com/files/discovery_4...72.torrent
DIRECT DOWNLOAD: http://discoverygc.com/files/discovery_5.00.8.exe

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- UNIVERSE MAP
http://space.discoverygc.com/navmap/

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Do not PM this account, it is a bot, it knows how to move threads between certain places and approve certain threads but cannot read PMs.

[Alley]

THIS THREAD WILL BE REGULARLY CLEANED OF SOLVED PROBLEMS
In order to be more efficent in helping out people with issues.

need a little advice here... how do I uninstall/install properly?

In your start menu, there's a folder called Discovery Freelancer. There's an uninstaller in there. You can use this to remove your current 4.88 installation or simply manually delete the folder yourself. Your accounts will not be lost are they are stored in a different folder, which is My Documents/My Games/Discovery.

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Alley was right.

[Gondoros]

After i installed the new update the game became unplayable. FPS fluctuates from 15 to 40, drops a lot whenever npcs/player ships, show up. Now I may have an old pc but still, before this update, FPS was between 70-130.
I even reinstalled windows and did a clean install , the problem persists.
What can i do?

[Alley]

After i installed the new update the game became unplayable. FPS fluctuates from 15 to 40, drops a lot whenever npcs/player ships, show up. Now I may have an old pc but still, before this update, FPS was between 70-130.
I even reinstalled windows and did a clean install , the problem persists.
What can i do?

Nothing changed in that aspect.
I suggest you check for background processes or try this dll: http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=123675

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Alley was right.

[Error]

After i installed the new update the game became unplayable. FPS fluctuates from 15 to 40, drops a lot whenever npcs/player ships, show up. Now I may have an old pc but still, before this update, FPS was between 70-130.
I even reinstalled windows and did a clean install , the problem persists.
What can i do?

Did you choose to install the bloom mod with v4.88.1? If you weren't previously using the bloom mod on your v4.88.0 install, that could explain the drastic FPS drop you're experiencing with v4.88.1, as it requires more from your computer. You may see this thread for uninstall instructions if this is the case.

EDIT: Any luck, Lyth? I doubt that it's a firewall issue in that case, but I can't say that I have any better suggestions just yet.

EDIT2: Looks like a few more are having the same issue in the shoutbox, actually. Or at least something that leads to the same symptoms as you are seeing. Odd.

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[Gondoros]

After i installed the new update the game became unplayable. FPS fluctuates from 15 to 40, drops a lot whenever npcs/player ships, show up. Now I may have an old pc but still, before this update, FPS was between 70-130.
I even reinstalled windows and did a clean install , the problem persists.
What can i do?

Nothing changed in that aspect.
I suggest you check for background processes or try this dll: http://discoverygc.com/forums/showthread.php?tid=123675

Checked the background processes, nothing is eating my resources, usage of cpu is like 20%, RAM like 50%.
Tried copying that dll but i get an error when launching disco from the launcher.

And i haven't installed the bloom either. Out of ideas

[SnakThree]

I downloaded the new one, so I'm very confused.

Delete 4.88.1
Delete 4.88.0

Install 4.88.1 while choosing VANILA Freelancer folder.

Play the game via DSlauncher.

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[Interceptor-]

how do i do with my account....where to insert where....long time i've been missing to see this hi-tech @_@
back in my good old day we didn't have disc. launcher...help!?

[Connor]

@Interceptor- It's pretty simple. I'll try and help you though it.

So, when you start up DSLauncher.exe, you get a window that opens which entitles you to many options. In the top left, you have 2 tabs. "Parameters" and "My Accounts". Click on the my accounts tab.

Then you'll get a new screen. This is where all of your accounts will be stored. You can import new accounts by using the option menu in the bottom left of the launcher:

Or you can add new accounts from the option in the bottom right corner

To activate an account, simply double click on the account you wish to activate. It's also good to have your accounts named and grouped like I have done in mine so that ships are easier to find on accounts. Remember, you can have 5 ships per account!

Hope this helped!

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[Interceptor-]

I understand that but how do i...import to say...my older account that i had?!
If i enter the game with new char i will start all over...that is the question
And thank you for helping me...on beer from me