I wanted to play Just Cause on my TV with an Xbox controller. On the off chance someone else is trying to do the same, I’ve written up these instructions.

But first: why even bother when the game already exists on actual console?

First of all, my PC is my console. I hook it up to my TV and it outperforms current gen console hardware. I have an RTX 3090, so why not use it?

Also, the PC version of this game is generally cheaper than even used copies for console. The PS2 version generally goes for $6.22. However, on Steam and GOG, it’s usually on sale for C$1.09.

Best of all, the PC version isn’t stuck at 480i. With a few tweaks (no mods needed), you can play in crisp HD—or even higher—and make the game look shockingly good on a modern display.

Here’s how to get it working:

Step 1:

Download Just Cause to your PC.

Step 2:

Open Steam’s Controller Settings. Select the current button layout, browse Community Layouts, and choose the one called DeadMonkey with “A” button. Press “X” to apply it. This lets you use an Xbox controller instead of a keyboard.

Step 3:

Right-click the game in your Library, go to Properties > General > Launch Options, and paste this in:

/width=1920 /height=1080

This forces a 1080p widescreen resolution—something the game doesn’t support out of the box. (This trick might work with 4K too, but I haven’t tested it.)

Step 4:

Go back to the main Just Cause menu, and press “Launch”.

And that’s it. You’ve got a full console-style experience, running better and sharper than anything the original 2000s-era hardware could deliver.

I love that this tutorial works equally well in Windows and Linux.