Returning - New Balance

This is an adaptation of the Returning mod available in German and Russian and builds on top of the original Returning 2.0 mod. It adds a lot of new content, settings, gameplay features, quests, characters and so on. It's huge. More details can be found here

Manual Instructions

1. Install base game without any patches.
2. Download executable and all the provided .bin files and put them in the same folder
3. Install Returning by executing the .exe file
4. Start the game with $BASE_DIR/system/Gothic2.exe

Note that this game already includes a list of modifications and plugins so adding any additional mods is very likely unnecessary or even detrimental. Proceed at your own risk.

Lutris Install Script

description: 'Installer for Gothic 2: Returning - New Balance'
game_slug: gothic-ii-gold-edition
gogslug: gothic_2_gold_edition
installer_slug: gothic2-gog
name: 'Gothic II: Returning - New Balance'
slug: gothic2-gog
gogid: 1207658718
version: GOG
year: 2003
notes: "Hassle free installer of Gothic 2 GOG version with Returning mod. Click \"Continue\" button in\
  \ any pop-up during the installation. Please be patient, some steps take time to\
  \ execute."
runner: wine
script:
  files:
    - setup: N/A:Select the GOG game setup file
    - exe:  https://cloud.bfloeser.de/s/NyjXHk272XnAqfp/download/Returning_NB_DE.exe
    - bin1: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/s/X7Wa3G5fH9LX2af/download/Returning_NB_DE-1.bin
    - bin2: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/s/i5yTRLaJ3dGeNM6/download/Returning_NB_DE-2.bin
    - bin3: https://cloud.bfloeser.de/s/4fnanE2J8HxEz8r/download/Returning_NB_DE-3.bin
    - intro_video: https://www.worldofgothic.net/download.php?id=1718
  variables:
    gamedatapath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold/Data
    gamepath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold
    gamesystempath: drive_c/GOG Games/Gothic 2 Gold/system
  wine:
    overrides:
      ddraw: n,b
      dinput: n,b
      dsound: b,n
  game:
    arch: win32
    exe: $gamesystempath/Gothic2.exe
    prefix: $GAMEDIR
  installer:
    - task:
        arch: win32
        description: Creating 32-bit Wine prefix
        install_gecko: false
        install_mono: false
        name: create_prefix
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        app: win7
        arch: win32
        description: 'winetricks: win7'
        name: winetricks
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        arch: win32
        args: /SP- /SUPRESSMSGBOXES /LOG /SILENT
        description: Installing Gothic 2
        executable: setup
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - task:
        app: "directmusic dotnet48 vcrun2022 dxvk"
        arch: win32
        description: Install wine dependencies. This will take some time.
        name: winetricks
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
    - copy:
        src: exe
        dst: $CACHE
    - copy:
        src: bin1
        dst: $CACHE
    - copy:
        src: bin2
        dst: $CACHE
    - copy:
        src: bin3
        dst: $CACHE
    - task:
        arch: win32
        args: /S /D=C:\\GOG Games\\Gothic 2 Gold
        description: Install Returning
        executable: $CACHE/Returning_NB_DE.exe
        name: wineexec
        prefix: $GAMEDIR
        working_dir: $GAMEDIR
    - extract:
        dst: $GAMEDIR/$gamepath/_work/Data/Video
        file: intro_video
    - write_config:
        data:
          GAME:
            playLogoVideos: 0
            scaleVideos: 1
            subTitles: 1
        description: Updating 'gothic.ini' file
        file: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath/GOTHIC.INI
    - write_config:
        data:
          Display:
            Brightness: 1.0
            Rain: 1
            RainEffects: 0
            TextureQuality: 16384
            UIScale: 1.0
            VSync: 1
          FontRendering:
            Enable: 1
          General:
            AllowNormalmaps: 1
            AnimateStaticVobs: 1
            DrawWorldSectionIntersections: 1
            EnableDebugLog: 0
            EnableGodRays: 1
            EnableInactiveFpsLock: 1
            FpsLimit: 60
            SunLightStrength: 1.5
          HBAO:
            Bias: 0.5
            BlurSharpness: 4.0
            EnableBlur: 1
            Enabled: 0
            PowerExponent: 3.0
            Radius: 1.0
            SsaoBlurRadius: 1
            SsaoStepCount: 0
          SMAA:
            Enabled: 1
            SharpenFactor: 0.2
          Shadows:
            EnableDynamicLighting: 1
            EnableShadows: 1
            EnableSoftShadows: 1
            PointlightShadows: 2
            ShadowAOStrength: 0.5
            ShadowMapSize: 2048
            ShadowStrength: 0.4
            SmoothCameraUpdate: 1
            WorldAOStrength: 0.5
            WorldShadowRangeScale: 8.0
        description: Updating GD3D11 config
        file: $GAMEDIR/$gamesystempath/GD3D11/UserSettings.ini