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What is all of this about?

Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive, a classic real-time tactics game that has captivated players since its release in 2001, faces new challenges with the advent of modern operating systems like Windows 11. As technology progresses, compatibility issues often arise with older games, leading to various workaround solutions to preserve the gaming experience. One such issue is running Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive in full-screen mode under Windows 11, where it defaults to windowed mode no matter what, potentially diminishing the immersive experience players seek in this beloved western adventure. This detracts from the gaming experience.

Why does this happen?

The transition to windowed mode is largely due to compatibility and display resolution mismatches between older games and newer operating systems. Windows 11, with its advanced display settings and configurations, often defaults to a safer, windowed mode when running applications that do not explicitly support its full range of display resolutions or aspect ratios. This conservative approach helps prevent issues such as distorted graphics or game crashes, which can occur when older software tries to run under unsupported settings. However, for many gamers, the windowed mode can detract from the immersive experience, confining the expansive world of “Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive” to a small window on their desktop.

How to solve this?

Fortunately, there is a simple yet effective solution to this issue: creating a shortcut to the game’s executable file (desperados.exe) with the flag “FORCEBORDERLESS.” This method leverages the game’s underlying capabilities and the flexibility of Windows shortcuts to force the game to run in a borderless window mode that occupies the entire screen, effectively mimicking a full-screen experience without the traditional full-screen mode’s potential compatibility issues. To implement this solution, players need to locate the desperados.exe file within the game’s installation directory. Right-clicking on the file, they select “Create shortcut” to generate a link that can be modified. Then, by right-clicking on the newly created shortcut and selecting “Properties,” players can add the flag “FORCEBORDERLESS” to the target field, appending it to the existing path (right after the path to the binary). This modification instructs the game to launch in a borderless window mode, stretching to cover the entire screen without the window chrome (the title bar and borders) that typically accompanies windowed applications.