Gamers have a reason to cheer as 2K Games has decided to streamline their gaming experience by doing away with their launcher on both Epic and Steam platforms. This update means that players can now dive into their games directly from these platforms without the extra step that the launcher required. Additionally, 2K has also removed the 2K Launcher Beta from Sid Meier’s Civilization 5, making it a seamless start for fans of the game.
For quite some time now, player-specific launchers have stirred up frustration among the gaming community. These launchers often dragged down game performance and unnecessarily complicated gameplay on platforms like Steam. Many players questioned their value, especially when they sometimes caused compatibility issues or even blocked games from starting. Fortunately, with 2K Games’ recent announcement, those frustrations can finally be laid to rest.
In a statement made on November 18, 2K Games introduced what it calls the “Complete Sunset.” Essentially, this means saying goodbye to the 2K Launcher for all supported games. The company even replaced the launcher’s folder with a simple text file to confirm this change. Players can delete this file and remove any lingering launcher-related files by following a guide provided by 2K. The removal isn’t just for Civilization 6 enthusiasts—now, everyone gets to enjoy this cleaner, more streamlined experience.
The specifics of the update vary from game to game, but the overarching aim is to simplify things for everyone involved. For instance, games like BioShock Remastered, BioShock 2 Remastered, BioShock Infinite, The Quarry, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns will now launch straight into the game. The revamped Mafia Trilogy Definitive Edition will also follow suit, though players need to follow some additional steps as outlined in 2K’s blog to make sure it runs smoothly. Interestingly, XCOM 2 will continue offering its original mod launcher, allowing players who love community content to still enjoy that aspect. Meanwhile, Sid Meier’s Civilization 5 players on Steam can choose launch options like DirectX 9 or DirectX 10/11 directly.
For players who discover leftover launcher files on their systems, 2K has rolled out comprehensive guides to help clean out these lingering files entirely. In addressing concerns about lingering launcher pop-ups when launching Steam games, the developers have clarified in their FAQ that simply restarting Steam should resolve the issue, as launch changes only kick in after a fresh restart. Should any stubborn problems persist, players are encouraged to submit a support ticket.
Long-time players who have been jumping through hoops to sidestep the launcher see this update as a welcome change. By simplifying the process, 2K Games allows fans to immerse themselves fully into what really matters: the gameplay, without being bogged down by technical hiccups.
