2K Games has decided to completely retire its launcher from all PC titles, allowing gamers to now access 2K games directly through Steam without needing any additional software. This change comes as a relief to many who previously had to deal with the 2K Launcher for games like Civilization 5, the Mafia Trilogy Definitive Edition, and XCOM 2. Thanks to a recent update, this launcher has been removed from every game on both Epic and Steam platforms, including the separate 2K Launcher Beta, which was linked to Civilization 5.
So what does this mean for gamers? Titles such as Bioshock Remastered, Bioshock 2 Remastered, Bioshock Infinite, The Quarry, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns will now leap right into gameplay once you hit Play. The approach for the Mafia Trilogy Definitive Edition games varies slightly between Steam and Epic, but getting into your game just got a whole lot simpler.
Earlier this year, Civilization 6 on Steam had already made this shift, so there’s nothing extra you need to do on that front. However, if you’re launching Civilization 6 on Epic, it will now boot straight into the game. For Civilization 5, the transition uses Steam Launch options to get things going.
XCOM 2 for Steam presents a bit of a unique case, since the launcher had integrated Mod support. Notably, this update will enable modding on the Steam Deck, which is great news for those customizing their gameplay. Over on Epic, XCOM 2 will now initiate using the Original XCOM 2 Mod Launcher. For XCOM: Chimera Squad, you have the freedom to use the Mod launcher if you wish, or just dive straight into the game. It’s confirmed that mods will work on the Steam Deck for Chimera Squad too.
In a recent blog post, 2K mentioned they’ve replaced the once-annoying 2KLauncher folder with a humble text file labeled 2kLauncherRemoved.txt, which you can safely delete. However, there might still be a couple of final steps to ensure the launcher is truly gone. 2K suggests that fully closing and reopening Steam, rather than minimizing it, and rebooting your PC should ensure all changes take effect. For Epic players, make sure you’ve grabbed the latest game update.
Rest assured, your saved games are safe, and you’ll retain access to all your titles as long as they were purchased through Steam or Epic. For those rare few who might be nostalgic for the 2K Launcher, it’s permanent goodbye. “We currently have no plans to allow an optional 2K Launcher setting, but we appreciate your interest,” shared 2K.
This shift happens just before Civilization 7’s debut in February 2025. With Civilization consistently ranking among the top PC games, fans can look forward to launching it directly on Steam with ease.
PC gamers have often voiced frustration over obligatory publisher launchers, like those from Ubisoft and EA, that create extra hurdles before game time. Despite this change from 2K, it’s unlikely we’ll see a widespread dropout of such launchers, especially given their roles in cloud saves and digital storefronts.
For more updates from the gaming world, Wesley, IGN’s UK News Editor, can be followed on Twitter at @wyp100. Reach out to Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
