Index: binaries/data/mods/public/gui/pregame/SplashscreenHandler.js
===================================================================
--- binaries/data/mods/public/gui/pregame/SplashscreenHandler.js
+++ binaries/data/mods/public/gui/pregame/SplashscreenHandler.js
@@ -32,36 +32,6 @@
 
 		if (Engine.ConfigDB_GetValue("user", "gui.splashscreen.enable") === "true" ||
 		    Engine.ConfigDB_GetValue("user", "gui.splashscreen.version") < Engine.GetFileMTime("gui/splashscreen/splashscreen.txt"))
-			Engine.PushGuiPage("page_splashscreen.xml", {}, this.showRenderPathMessage);
-		else
-			this.showRenderPathMessage();
-	}
-
-	showRenderPathMessage()
-	{
-		// Warn about removing fixed render path
-		if (Engine.Renderer_GetRenderPath() != "fixed")
-			return;
-
-		messageBox(
-			600, 300,
-			"[font=\"sans-bold-16\"]" +
-			sprintf(translate("%(warning)s You appear to be using non-shader (fixed function) graphics. This option will be removed in a future 0 A.D. release, to allow for more advanced graphics features. We advise upgrading your graphics card to a more recent, shader-compatible model."), {
-				"warning": coloredText("Warning:", "200 20 20")
-			}) +
-			"\n\n" +
-			// Translation: This is the second paragraph of a warning. The
-			// warning explains that the user is using “non-shader“ graphics,
-			// and that in the future this will not be supported by the game, so
-			// the user will need a better graphics card.
-			translate("Please press \"Read More\" for more information or \"OK\" to continue."),
-			translate("WARNING!"),
-			[translate("OK"), translate("Read More")],
-			[
-				null,
-				() => {
-					Engine.OpenURL("https://www.wildfiregames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16734");
-				}
-			]);
+			Engine.PushGuiPage("page_splashscreen.xml", {});
 	}
 }
Index: source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
===================================================================
--- source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
+++ source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
 
 extern void RestartEngine();
 
+#include <cstdlib>
 #include <iostream>
 
 #include <boost/algorithm/string/classification.hpp>
@@ -999,16 +1000,19 @@
 	g_GUI = new CGUIManager();
 
 	// (must come after SetVideoMode, since it calls ogl_Init)
-	if (ogl_HaveExtensions(0, "GL_ARB_vertex_program", "GL_ARB_fragment_program", NULL) != 0 // ARB
+	CStr8 renderPath = "default";
+	CFG_GET_VAL("renderpath", renderPath);
+	if ((ogl_HaveExtensions(0, "GL_ARB_vertex_program", "GL_ARB_fragment_program", NULL) != 0 // ARB
 		&& ogl_HaveExtensions(0, "GL_ARB_vertex_shader", "GL_ARB_fragment_shader", NULL) != 0) // GLSL
+		|| RenderPathEnum::FromString(renderPath) == FIXED)
 	{
 		DEBUG_DISPLAY_ERROR(
 			L"Your graphics card doesn't appear to be fully compatible with OpenGL shaders."
-			L" In the future, the game will not support pre-shader graphics cards."
+			L" The game does not support pre-shader graphics cards."
 			L" You are advised to try installing newer drivers and/or upgrade your graphics card."
 			L" For more information, please see http://www.wildfiregames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16734"
 		);
-		// TODO: actually quit once fixed function support is dropped
+		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	}
 
 	const char* missing = ogl_HaveExtensions(0,