How to Skip the Damn Punkbuster Installation

An annoying $h!t that you don't even bloody need.

Basic Info

As you all know, Punkbuster was discontinued years ago (I forgot what year they are shut down), but there are some games that still have Punkbuster. Like older Call of Duty titles, such as this one. You really don't give a $h!t about this, because you only play the campaign and f@#k all right? Well, I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE and it's okay.

WARNING:
DO NOT HEED MY GUIDE IF YOU REALLY WANNA PLAY MULTIPLAYER. BUT IF YOU WANNA HEED THIS GUIDE, THEN YOU MIGHT NEED TO FIND YOUR OWN SOLUTION.

Removing Punkbuster

Go to where your game is located

EXAMPLE:
Drive (Whatever You Name It) >> SteamLibrary >> Common >> Call of Duty 4

Now, there is a folder PB and a file that says "pbgame". F@#K!ng delete it (or Cut and paste it to somewhere else in case you are worried). And after you launch it through Steam Client, you won't have to look at the bloody requirement of demanding this crap needed to be installed or you repeatedly have to either choose "I DISAGREE" or "I AGREE" anymore.

Now, you're done.

Q&A

Q: What purpose of removing this?
A: It stops having the Steam Client asking you to install this ANTI-CHEAT app, because you don't need it or you don't play Multiplayer with this crap.

Q: Will this affect my game?
A: Maybe, but there are other solutions that can avoid it. However, if you wanna be save, you can just CUT and PASTE it to another folder you have on you.

Q: Do I even need this Punkbuster? I only care about the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ single-player.
A: If you care about Single-player, you don't need it. So I hope this helps.

I put less Q&A, because this solution only help for those don't need it and only care about the Single-Player campaign. Sadly I cannot answer my best, because I DO NOT STEP INTO MULTIPLAYER ANYMORE FOR REASONS THAT I WISH TO AVOID.

I have spoken.
- RESENTMENT

[TS2]

MW2 2009 and MW3 2011 never shipped with PunkBuster. They only used VAC.

[Dark_453]

Just to say, 2025 - This Fix pat works. Replacing the folder with Empty PB also Yelds Result.
it skips the PB check for single player and just installs needed Direct X
-.- most older CODs will have this. along with "American's Army" around same kinda time.
very easy to over-ride today :)
just to note- this worked for MW1 2007 / MW2 2009 and MW3 2011
Note tested on any BS re-release "Enhanced" ED's now blizzard took charge.. game gone to crap. just like world of war"crack"

[Sl4y3r]

this does not work, gives some error and game wont launch

[Yewbacca]

Since I got a question how to do it in the way I described below:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3465039436

[Yewbacca]

For anyone struggling to make this work in 2024:
My installation of COD: World At War, I could edit the installation script in the root folder.
Just remove the JSON object that says punkbuster in 10090_install.vdf.
That fixed it for me.

[TS2]

Excellent guide for those looking to purge the files outright.

For a more direct fix, replacing the pbsetup.exe file in that directory with PBSetup 3.8 from https://evenbalance.com/pbsetup.php allows one to complete the PBSetup startup process by allowing the damned thing to complete its self-update check correctly.

This does not work for the file that ships with the game due to it trying to phone home to a custom listing on Even Balance, Inc.'s servers, which was removed when Activision ended support for PunkBuster in COD titles dating back to around 2014 or 2017. As such, the generic PBSetup.exe file is needed.

[EvathCebor]

Thanks !

[w]

thanks man.