2K launcher

[wolfie0827]

Question for Valve and 2K, Why does a game launcher (Steam) need another game launcher (2K Launcher) to launch or start a game? Why do I need extra garbage taking up memory?

[wolfie0827]

And inform them of all the new bugs and performance dis-enhancements the newest "upgrade" supplied.

[wolfie0827]

Last time I played was before the last update and install of the 2K launcher, Game ran fine then, now I have my CPU upgraded, Video card upgraded and twice as much memory installed and the game plays for ♥♥♥♥, it stutters bad when anything besides my character moves. If I try to change settings in audio or graphics the game freezes. battling Big Daddies is almost impossible with the stutters! I really think they bugged the game on purpose so we would go out and by the newest bioshock.

[radioman970us]

zero problems for me. Runs like a dream.

[Squircle]

Originally posted by wolfie0827:

Last time I played was before the last update and install of the 2K launcher, Game ran fine then, now I have my CPU upgraded, Video card upgraded and twice as much memory installed and the game plays for ♥♥♥♥, it stutters bad when anything besides my character moves. If I try to change settings in audio or graphics the game freezes. battling Big Daddies is almost impossible with the stutters! I really think they bugged the game on purpose so we would go out and by the newest bioshock.

A fix that worked for me: go to the game files, copy the BioshockHD exe, find the 2klauncher folder in the bioshock files, empty it out (but don't delete the folder), paste the BS exe and rename it "LauncherPatcher". That way, the game boots without activating the launcher.

[wolfie0827]

Squircle, tried that, I was able to play longer before crashing. But still getting crashes to desktop. My system is more than the recommended and twice the required specs. SFC /scannow and DISM report no problems and checking the file integrity on steam checks out as fine too.

[Vezner]

This launcher is so frustrating. Reset settings, causes crashes, etc. WTH 2k!?!?

[Photonboy]

1) Game runs flawlessly for me with a GTX1080. I just tested and I can maintain a locked 120FPS at 4K and max settings. With VSYNC off it fluctuates between 140 and 220FPS.

2) LAUNCHER fix (haven't tried it. I assume that's just skipping to the normal EXE): https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/BioShock_Remastered

The LAUNCHER is because Steam takes a 30% cut (last I heard) so game publishers really want to launch their own window so you might buy a game through them directly, or at least get some DLC from them directly. Or at minimum you see another game you want and still buy it on Steam.

I'm mostly fine with this, however when playing on my TV it can be a hassle as I can just launch it from Big Picture Mode in Steam. I have to get up and go to the computer to use the mouse (hardly the end of the World).

3) Troubleshooting:
I'd be guessing as it runs great for me so I can only think of some super obvious things you likely did already...
a) VERIFY the game content in Steam (I'm sure you know how)
b) if AMD CPU and running Windows 11, ensure your BIOS has the fTPM stutter fix if available. That fixed a bunch of stutter issues for me almost a year ago.

C) the above PCGAMINGWIKI has a bunch of things listed, including a Steam link at the bottom for WORKAROUNDS

[wolfie0827]

To #2 If they do not like the 30% cut they don't have to put their games on steam. As for the Launcher fix, we should not have to fix a companies software they have released for sale, if we have to troubleshoot/fix, it should be an open beta not a commercial release.

#3 Most of us have all ready done all the steps you suggested as well as pretty much everything else we could find on the internet tech sites including PCGAMINGWIKI. Short of MS's first suggestion for most problems (Re-installing windows.)

I fixed the issues by removing Bioshock (1+2 remastered) from steam and checking GOG found they do not have the Launcher, so I bought them from GOG and have had very little problems since.

[[{******---Dead4Life---******}]]

Why not?

[wolfie0827]

Bioshock 2 remastered still likes to crash sometimes but not nearly as much as it does with the 2KLauncher. Bioshock 2 (Original) plays fine without a single crash after two play throughs.

[[{******---Dead4Life---******}]]

Interesting, I feel bad for you guys. My games don't crash, hopefully you guys find a fix

[Jinx]

Deleted the 2K Launcher folder and launched by clicking the game's .exe directly. Could probably re-add the game as a shortcut to just its .exe and "hide" the regular entry.
*edit* yup it worked. **** 2K Games.

[Hichem]

for me it unplayable even after reinstall windows, its the only game on my library who crash every 5 minutes.

In my life I will never give one dollars to 2k

[Photonboy]

SOMETIMES game crashes relate to driver changes. For example, "Detroit Become Human" started to crash for me and others after a specific NVidia driver. It still crashes today with my GTX1080.

My NVidia GTX1080 system runs these two Bioshock Remastered games perfectly and at high FPS (with VSYNC OFF just to test but I lock to 60FPS). So I'd be curious to know what the common thread is on games that actually crash. It sucks, but the knee-jerk reaction to blaming 2K Games might not be the right one.

It's hard to get information on this which suggests to me it's PROBABLY not a wide-spread issue, although the age of the game probably makes the user base small so who knows.

But it can be frustrating... I got excited for Witcher 3's update on PC and... F**K. I can get it working well enough I guess but I can't be confident they won't bork it again so I've just moved on as my free time is limited.