Players have something new to cheer about as 2K Games has decided to streamline the gaming experience by axing its launcher from all titles on Epic and Steam in a move dubbed the “Complete Sunset.” This also includes taking out the 2K Launcher Beta from Sid Meier’s Civilization 5. The bottom line? Gamers get to jump straight into their favorite titles on these platforms without any additional steps.
For a long time, publisher-specific launchers have been a bane for players, as they often drag down game performance and unnecessarily complicate the playing process. Some gamers even found these launchers redundant, as they could introduce compatibility issues or even halt games from starting altogether. But with 2K Games’ recent announcement, players can finally set these grievances aside.
On November 18, 2K Games made it official: the 2K Launcher is now history for all supported games. This transition was confirmed in a blog post where the company detailed swapping out the launcher’s folder with a simple text file. Players are encouraged to delete this text file and follow 2K’s guide to clear out any remnants of the launcher. Civilization 6 fans, who previously welcomed the launcher’s removal, now have even more reason to celebrate.
The implementation of this change varies across games, but the aim is to simplify the experience for everyone. Titles such as BioShock Remastered, BioShock 2 Remastered, BioShock Infinite, The Quarry, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns will now launch directly without intermediary steps. While Mafia Trilogy Definitive Edition will let players dive into the game, it requires following additional instructions from 2K’s blog to ensure smooth operation. XCOM 2, on the other hand, retains its existing mod launcher for fans of community mods. Meanwhile, Sid Meier’s Civilization 5 players can now choose between DirectX 9 or DirectX 10/11 as part of their launch options on Steam.
For anyone still finding bits of the launcher lurking on their system, 2K has offered guidance on how to clean up these files completely. In their FAQ section, addressing concerns from players encountering the 2K Launcher on Steam, developers assured that restarting the platform would resolve these issues. Persistent problems can be addressed by submitting a support ticket.
For many who have been dodging the launcher for years, this update is a breath of fresh air. It strips away layers of difficulty, letting players immerse themselves in gaming without technical distractions.
