Can I Delete Game Files Now, Without Breaking The Game For Later Reinstall?

[Gk1233215]

I Have a few games, but not enough room for all of them, Is it safe to Delete the Game's Folders from 'Common' after I uninstall the game? I know I can to get rid of the game, but will Steam restore those files if I Reinstall the Game at a later date?

More specifically I want to delete The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion to make room for Skyrim, I but I want to be able to go back to Oblivion later when I get an External Hard Drive. I dont care If my mods and gamesaves are gone forever, I can redownload them, I need to know if the other files needed for the game to run, will be lost forever before I drag them to the recycling bin and hit empty

[StickyPawz]

You can download and install any of your games as many times as you want.

[Gk1233215]

Originally posted by StickyPawz:

You can download and install any of your games as many times as you want.

I know I can, the question is if I delete all the game files left behind after I uninstall, will steam notice they are missing and reinstall them along with the game?

[Glimmer]

When you install the game again, it will install all the files it needs. If it doesn't reinstall those files, then they were not needed by the game. A prominent example would any mods you previously installed.

[Gk1233215]

Can I Manually Delete [Click and drag to trash bin] All The Game Files In C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\steamapps\common After I Uninstall The Game, and still re-download the game next week without issues?

[StickyPawz]

Steam will download all the required game files.

The empty folders left behind after a game uninstall are not needed.

[Gk1233215]

I ask because the only files Steam seems to have gotten rid of was the game and launcher apps, but it left all the files... I need to know if the files can be deleted safely assuming I still want to play the game later?

[Washell]

Originally posted by Gk1233215:

Can I Manually Delete [Click and drag to trash bin] All The Game Files In C:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\steamapps\common After I Uninstall The Game, and still re-download the game next week without issues?

Yes.

Originally posted by Gk1233215:

I ask because the only files Steam seems to have gotten rid of was the game and launcher apps, but it left all the files... I need to know if the files can be deleted safely assuming I still want to play the game later?

Yes.

[Gk1233215]

Originally posted by StickyPawz:

Steam will download all the required game files.

The empty folders left behind after a game uninstall are not needed.

Files are Not empty, if they where I would have already deleted them,

I would be asking if I just had 20 or so empty folders, I have gigs of stuff from the original unedited version of the game...

[Gk1233215]

All y'all are saying yes, so at this point if the game is broken after I delete this stuff I will just make an official complaint to steam. If they cant fix my problems I can always get a cracked game for free. We will see...

[Washell]

Originally posted by Gk1233215:

All y'all are saying yes, so at this point if the game is broken after I delete this stuff I will just make an official complaint to steam. If they cant fix my problems I can always get a cracked game for free

You downloaded the game the first time without those files there. People buy new PC's and "reinstall" the game without those files there. It's fine. You're overthinking things. The only thing you stand to lose are files you put there yourself, like mods, saves, and settings.

Edit: Oh, and your community posting privileges for mentioning and considering piracy, you stand to lose those too.

[Gk1233215]

Mentioning, not considering, but I personally see piracy as 'Ok' given the rare circumstances that a game or something is 'taken' without reason or refund from someone who paid for said item...

Other than if its to get back what was stolen than yeah, Illegal and Wrong...