In a significant move that reflects a growing trend in the gaming industry, 2K Games, the publisher behind popular franchises like Borderlands and Civilization, has announced the complete removal of its 2K PC launcher from all titles. This decision, made quietly yet decisively, marks a shift towards simplifying the gaming experience for players.
Streamlining the Gaming Experience
For years, gamers have navigated a landscape cluttered with multiple launchers, each requiring separate downloads and updates. Since around 2019, major publishers including EA, Ubisoft, and Bethesda began to introduce their own launchers, often complicating the process for players who purchased games through platforms like Steam. This fragmentation led to frustration, as users found themselves juggling various applications just to access their games.
However, 2K Games has taken a bold step in the opposite direction. On November 18, the company initiated the sunset of its PC launcher, allowing titles such as Bioshock Remastered, Bioshock 2 Remastered, Bioshock Infinite, The Quarry, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns to launch directly through Steam. This means that players can now enjoy a seamless experience—clicking play on Steam will take them straight into the game without the need for any intermediary steps.
While most titles will transition smoothly, some, like the remastered Mafia Trilogy, may require additional steps to fully eliminate the 2K launcher. To assist users, 2K has updated each game’s support page with detailed instructions on the necessary actions. Furthermore, on November 25, an update was released on Steam that effectively removed the 2K launcher from users’ systems, replacing the associated files with a simple text document titled “2kLauncherRemoved.txt.” Players have been informed that this file can also be deleted without concern.
For those who wish to ensure that every remnant of the launcher is completely eradicated from their PCs, 2K has provided a dedicated guide. Interestingly, while the company has confirmed that it will not continue to support the 2K Games launcher, it has expressed appreciation for the interest shown by its users who may have enjoyed the platform.
