2K Games has decided to completely phase out its launcher from all PC games, giving players the freedom to start up their 2K games straight from Steam without any fuss.
Previously, the 2K Launcher was a required step for fans of PC titles like Firaxis’ Civilization 5, the Mafia Trilogy Definitive Edition, and XCOM 2. However, with a recent update, that extra step is gone. The launcher has been removed from every game that relied on it on both Epic and Steam. As a result, the separate 2K Launcher Beta attached to Civilization 5 is now history too.
With this change, players can jump right into games like Bioshock Remastered, Bioshock 2 Remastered, Bioshock Infinite, The Quarry, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns the moment they press Play. For Mafia Trilogy Definitive Edition players on Steam and Epic, the route to get started is slightly tweaked but still straightforward.
If you’ve been playing Civilization 6 on Steam, you might have noticed the launcher was already dropped earlier this year, so nothing new to do there. But for those using Epic, it will now launch directly into the game. As for Civilization 5, you’ll now open it via Steam Launch options.
For XCOM 2 on Steam, things are a bit different because the launcher was tied to Mod support. Importantly, these changes now allow mod activation on the Steam Deck. Meanwhile, XCOM 2 on Epic will take you to the Original XCOM 2 Mod Launcher automatically. In the case of XCOM: Chimera Squad, players can choose between the Mod launcher or direct game launch, with mod access available on Steam Deck too.
In a detailed blog post, 2K explained they’ve swapped out the 2KLauncher folder with a text file, 2kLauncherRemoved.txt, which you can delete if you want. But to fully ensure the launcher is out of your life, they recommend closing down Steam entirely, not just minimizing it, and giving your PC a reboot. For those on Epic, just make sure your game is updated to the latest version.
Importantly, saved game files remain unaffected, so your access to games purchased via Steam or Epic is safe. Unfortunately, if for some reason you’re among the minority that wants the 2K Launcher back, it’s gone for good. 2K clarified they don’t plan to offer it as an optional feature anytime soon.
Looking ahead, 2K is making these changes ahead of Civilization 7’s release, set for February 2025. This move should reassure Civilization fans that they can boot up the new installment directly through Steam.
It’s worth noting that players have long expressed frustration with publisher-specific launchers from companies like Ubisoft and EA, which often serve as an inconvenient hurdle before accessing games. While the removal of the 2K Launcher might not set off a trend of eliminating all PC launchers—since they often play a role in cloud saves and storefront functions—it’s a welcome relief.
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