How to install and play the Day Z mod for Arma 2

arma-2dayz-2012

I'd like to install and play the Day Z mod for Arma 2, but the web page for the mod doesn't give very specific instructions. Simply dropping the .rar files into the specified directories seems to be insufficient.

I'd like a step by step process for installing and launching this mod. I purchased the game through Steam, if distribution method matters.

Best Answer

I just got this working myself, although it took some help from the internet to get it working.

  • Install Arma 2 and Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead.
  • Close Steam completely, and then rerun it as an administrator (this is required to launch Arma 2 for the first time. You'll get a bad serial key error otherwise)
  • Create folder called @DayZ in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2 operation arrowhead
  • Create a folder inside of that folder called Addons, and then download all the DayZ mod files from the DayZ website into that folder (So they should be located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\arma 2 operation arrowhead\@DayZ\Addons)
  • Extract the files into the Addons folder. Make sure they are in the top level of the Addons folder or Arma 2 won't be able to find the files.
  • Launch Arma 2 (you need to run Arma 2 first in order for Arma 2: Combined Operations to work, which is required for DayZ.
  • Launch Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead from the Steam library, and run it as Arma 2: Combined Operation

That's all you'll need to do to get DayZ working. Chances are you'll want to filter out the non-DayZ games, which you can do by opening the Filter menu and setting mission to DayZ.

Sources: this video, this thread, and this thread.

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