This is probably your best bet for old game patches: https://www.patches-scrolls.de/

Not sure if they have that particular System Shock 2 patch, but it's worth a look. For other games, the PC Gaming Wiki sometimes has mirrors of the original patches. However, they seem to mostly focus on fan made fixes, which allow games to run on modern systems.

When those fail, try searching through the magazine cover CDs on archive dot org. May take some effort though - "small fry" like patches often isn't listed in the upload description but if there's a cover scan there's a good change it's shown there. Or in some cases you can guess the file name (e.g. from earlier or later patches) and search that.

There'd been only one patch and it's v2.3 (no 0).

you'll quite often find dead links to patches, but as long as you can find the filename google is still your friend

For System Shock 2, don't use the official patch. Instead go here:

https://www.systemshock.org/index.php?topic=4447.0

It's a fan site/forum/file download site for System Shock 1 and 2,and you should follow the instructions on that webpage. It includes SS2Tool, which automatically installs all needed patches, and SCP (Shock Community Patch, an optional but very recommended all-in-one comprehensive collection of fan-made fixes, balances, and improvements, involving literally thousands of things in the game.

Seriously, don't play the game with just the official patch, instead set up the game using the downloads on that webpage. It really is by far the best way to play this superb game.

Does anyone know where patch 2.03 can be found? I've tried checking on the various sites suggested, but I've had no luck.

DustyShinigami wrote on 2025-01-10, 15:29:

Does anyone know where patch 2.03 can be found? I've tried checking on the various sites suggested, but I've had no luck.

I don't know how much you can trust it, but I downloaded it from here: https://www.patches-scrolls.com/system_shock2.php
It's does not update to 2.03 but to 2.23 and that is the closest I found.

The official patch is available from https://web.archive.org/web/20020927154957/ht … es/shkpatch.exe

It seems to all be the same. Whether 2.03, 2.23, or 2.3, they refer to the same patch.

I don't understand why this System shock 2 patch v. 2.03 is so precious, if there's available newer v. 2.23, but maybe someone have to dig into the well known software archive site - there are some old CD images with game patches.

So what's the right version number and the right spelling (with or w/o v/V)? Irrational Games themselves don't mention a version number at all (-> http://web.archive.org/web/20030604064820/htt … mes.com/shock2/), a third party FAQ which was also linked to from the official page earlier in 2001 says there is one patch and it updates System Shock 2 from v1.15 to v2.3 (-> http://web.archive.org/web/20011117002024/htt … k/shockfaq.html). The patch itself (shkpatch.exe) has no version number in the file name, only brings an error message when executing (I don't have a copy of System Shock 2) and can't be open with 7-Zip.

So anyone can tell the version - 2.03, v2.03, V2.03, 2.23, v2.23, V2.23, 2.3, v2.3 or V2.3? Call me a nitpicker, but I want to know the exact spelling.

kind regards
soggi

soggi wrote on 2025-01-12, 05:26:

So anyone can tell the version - 2.03, v2.03, V2.03, 2.23, v2.23, V2.23, 2.3, v2.3 or V2.3? Call me a nitpicker, but I want to know the exact spelling.

It's 2.3

shock2.exe says 2.3 and so did the patcher while updating the game, without any v or V.

soggi wrote on 2025-01-12, 05:26:

So what's the right version number and the right spelling (with or w/o v/V)? Irrational Games themselves don't mention a version […]
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So what's the right version number and the right spelling (with or w/o v/V)? Irrational Games themselves don't mention a version number at all (-> http://web.archive.org/web/20030604064820/htt … mes.com/shock2/), a third party FAQ which was also linked to from the official page earlier in 2001 says there is one patch and it updates System Shock 2 from v1.15 to v2.3 (-> http://web.archive.org/web/20011117002024/htt … k/shockfaq.html). The patch itself (shkpatch.exe) has no version number in the file name, only brings an error message when executing (I don't have a copy of System Shock 2) and can't be open with 7-Zip.

So anyone can tell the version - 2.03, v2.03, V2.03, 2.23, v2.23, V2.23, 2.3, v2.3 or V2.3? Call me a nitpicker, but I want to know the exact spelling.

kind regards
soggi

Ahh, so it's there. In the end, I had to find mine through... other means. :p