Launching Red Alert 2, Yuri's Revenge and Final Alert (map editor)

Launching Red Alert 2, Yuri's Revenge & Final Alert

Launching from Red Alert 2, Yuri’s Revenge, or Final Alert (map editor) on Steam

To play Red Alert 2 or Yuri’s Revenge open the game directly through Steam Press the PLAY button within Steam. Then select Red Alert 2 or Yuri’s Revenge. You can also access the map editor Final Alert this way.


Also make sure that "Ask When Starting Game" is selected under the games Launch Options in Steam. Under launch parameters, also add -SPEEDCONTROL to enable the ability to edit the game speed in the settings menu.

Launching Red Alert 2 from Desktop Shortcut

Red Alert 2 can be launched from the desktop shortcut created by steam. Rename the original shortcut to "Command & Conquer: Red Alert™ 2" as it only opens that game. Also, right click on the shortcut and add -SPEEDCONTROL at the end of the “target” to enable the ability to edit the game speed in the settings menu.

Launching Yuri's Revenge from Desktop Shortcut

With the recent update, Yuri's Revenge can be launched through a new desktop shortcut we will create.
1. On steam, Right click on "Command & Conquer: Red Alert™ 2 and Yuri’s Revenge™" within Steam and select Manage > Browse Local Files.


2. Copy gamemd.exe and paste a *SHORTCUT on your desktop.

3. Rename the shortcut "Command & Conquer: Red Alert™ 2: Yuri’s Revenge™". You should be able to launch Yuri's Revenge from this new shortcut.


4. Also, right click on the shortcut and add -SPEEDCONTROL at the end of the “target” to enable the ability to edit the game speed in the settings menu.


*Note: A SHORTCUT is a pointer to a file (or location). It is not an actual copy of the file. If you make a copy of the file by mistake it will not run as it cannot find the other game files needed to run.

Notes

The original Desktop Shortcut created by Steam only opens Red Alert 2 main game and not the expansion Yuri's Revenge or Final Alert (map editor). It never asks which game/program you wish to start no matter the settings on steam. Likewise launching game.exe (Red Alert 2) Ra2.exe (Red Alert 2) RA2MD.exe (Yuri's Revenge) from the games files in the steam folder all seem to launch Red Alert 2 not Yuri's Revenge. With the most recent update gamemd.exe (Yuri's Revenge) will launch Yuri's Revenge, therefore a desktop shortcut can now be created following this guide.

Last Edit Made March 19, 2024

[im2sweet4allu]

im having a hard time playing the game because its slow performance. not sure what to do

[burdenbc]

hey does your Map Generator work? Mine freezes after I click 'use map'

[AshDives]

YR and RA2 work perfectly, but I can't figure out how to get Final Alert running though Steam? The files are there when I look in the local directory, but when I choose to launch the map editor, nothing happens... Any ideas? I'm using a Mac....

[Mikeagan]

Did you make a shortcut or a copy of the file? You need to paste a shortcut to the file copied, not create a copy of actual file.

[Shadow2k1]

So i did exactly what you said.... Copied the file, renamed it, and put it on my desktop, i still get an error... saying it can't run or be played....

[Mikeagan]

White Sushi, I created this guide as I saw that many were asking if Yuri's Revenge was included as they couldn't figure out how to access it. I noticed the map editor was an option so I thought I would include a note of how to access that as well. I have not had a chance to look at the map editor itself yet, but I can certainly add that information to this guide once I have figured it out myself.

[White Sushi]

How do you save and import maps created from Final Alert?
I tried saving but I don't know where to put the saved map.. there is no "Maps" folder on C&C steam folder.