Why games requesting to download Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime for?

[-$ilver-]

Only a handful of games ever asked to download something extra. What are the dangers of downloading the extras? Why are these not already included in the games in the first place? Or why are they needed when the vast majority do not ask for such a request? Thank you.

[B-o-B]

It’s a windows dependency. Software depends on it being there, including games.

[-$ilver-]

Nguyên văn bởi B-o-B:

It’s a windows dependency. Software depends on it being there, including games.

But only certain games? Out of several dozens, maybe few has asked for it.

[Ogami]

Its possible that the version of Visual C++ needed for the game is a older one then the one coming with your current Windows installation. And then the game will download the correct one it needs.
And its not as rare as you may think, i have a few dozen games that may download extra files from the net after installation, mostly older titles.
You cant have every version of every possibly needed dependency come with the game or the Steam tools archive, that would lead to massive bloat over time.

[Washell]

Nguyên văn bởi -$ilver-:

Only a handful of games ever asked to download something extra. Or why are they needed when the vast majority do not ask for such a request? Thank you.

Nguyên văn bởi Microsoft:

The Visual C++ Redistributable Packages install run-time components of Visual C++ libraries. These components are required to run C++ applications that are developed using Visual Studio and link dynamically to Visual C++ libraries. These package can be used to run such applications on a computer even if it does not have Visual Studio installed. These packages install run-time components of these libraries: C Runtime (CRT), Standard C++, MFC, C++ AMP, and OpenMP.

Not all games are developed with Visual Studio.

Nguyên văn bởi -$ilver-:

Why are these not already included in the games in the first place?

Microsoft terms and agreements require this (and DirectX libraries) to be installed with their own installer. Be happy about that, saves a lot of problems in the long run.

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Why do games need Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable?
This saves time and helps standardize aspects of software developments.
The software libraries in question belong to Microsoft, so the developer can't simply copy and paste the code into their own program.
The redistributable allows the program to call on the libraries it needs on the user's computer.
https://helpdeskgeek.com/help-desk/what-is-microsoft-visual-c-redistributable-do-you-need-so-many/

[-$ilver-]

Thanks everyone for the update. Just seemed odd very few games asked for this. Made me weary and I ignored or refunded those particular games.

[Satoru]

Why would you refund games that require visual C++ a standard package from Microsoft...............................

Note that games have always included various pre-requisiste things like directx installers or visual c++ or dot net, etc.

[-$ilver-]

Nguyên văn bởi Satoru:

Why would you refund games that require visual C++ a standard package from Microsoft...............................

Note that games have always included various pre-requisiste things like directx installers or visual c++ or dot net, etc.

"If" I have a hundred games on Steam, maybe only five has required anything special to play. I found it odd those five games needed something special or extra.

[fluxtorrent]

I'm guessing you mostly own newer games then, it "used" to be the norm, though in recent years things have been streamlined significantly.

A 2 decades ago it was pretty much every game

[-$ilver-]

Back in the day I really only played Half Life 1 mods, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and the free online version and Everquest. So I can not really argue your counter point. But the other games I did have, I can not remember it having to download anything extra either. Unless it did without asking of course. Or maybe my older system was built better for older games so it had what it already needed.

[fluxtorrent]

Nguyên văn bởi -$ilver-:

Back in the day I really only played Half Life 1 mods, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and the free online version and Everquest. So I can not really argue your counter point. But the other games I did have, I can not remember it having to download anything extra either. Unless it did without asking of course. Or maybe my older system was built better for older games so it had what it already needed.

Everquest and halflife needed the correct distro for dx9, but you probably already had them. Most games still had to download a distro for DX9 until dx10 became the norm, and then it was kept up to date by windows update after that.

dotnet was the big one between 2005 and 2015ish that needed VERY specific version from 2.0 to 3.5, after that microsoft made it part of windows update as well, which is why it stopped being common.

visual still sees some use, mostly among more indie devs that build their own engine, it used to be needed for older version of unreal as well, but iirc the newer versions dont rely on a seperate distro.


So mostly you will only see it if you buy games that predate 2015 and even then theres a "decent" chance you will already have what you need, except for the occasional dx9 oddities, some of the specific requirements fit into such specific version numbers that it wasn't uncommon to have 20+ different versions installed at one point.


edit: oh and then theres the really old games that use direct draw ect, but you dont see a lot of those on steam

[-$ilver-]

Nguyên văn bởi fluxtorrent:

Everquest and halflife needed the correct distro for dx9, but you probably already had them. Most games still had to download a distro for DX9 until dx10 became the norm, and then it was kept up to date by windows update after that.

dotnet was the big one between 2005 and 2015ish that needed VERY specific version from 2.0 to 3.5, after that microsoft made it part of windows update as well, which is why it stopped being common.

visual still sees some use, mostly among more indie devs that build their own engine, it used to be needed for older version of unreal as well, but iirc the newer versions dont rely on a seperate distro.


So mostly you will only see it if you buy games that predate 2015 and even then theres a "decent" chance you will already have what you need, except for the occasional dx9 oddities, some of the specific requirements fit into such specific version numbers that it wasn't uncommon to have 20+ different versions installed at one point.


edit: oh and then theres the really old games that use direct draw ect, but you dont see a lot of those on steam

I think a Steam mod or two requested Direct Draw or something, as the flash light was too taxing for what it was trying to do. Then again it could be something else. I generally avoided those mods, as it was very few and far between. Maybe three I have ever come across. Or maybe that was for Sven Co-op maps. I appreciate all the info by the way. Thank you.

[fluxtorrent]

probably wasn't direct draw, or at least not the one I was refering to it hasn't been used since... well, dos and windows 3.1 heh. It was the predecessor to directx


no problem, its what us old people are for lol

[Yzal]

It's something that the game requires to run; no different from like, say, Nvidia Physx.

[alejoeloy]

Nguyên văn bởi -$ilver-:

Only a handful of games ever asked to download something extra. What are the dangers of downloading the extras? Why are these not already included in the games in the first place? Or why are they needed when the vast majority do not ask for such a request? Thank you.

idk