Subj : The Disney+ price hike ha
To   : Nightfox
From : Accession
Date : Thu Oct 09 2025 18:10:20

Hey Nightfox!

On Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:46:36 -0700, you wrote:

 > I'm pretty sure you can run the game executable directly if you wanted
 > to.

Try it. Hell, try to find the actual game executable and original game directory structure, even (especially if you install to default Steam directories). It's so intertwined into Steams subdirectories 

 > At least, I've run several Steam games that way. Steam doesn't
 > obfuscate the game's files.  I thought Steam put a shortcut icon on your
 > desktop for the games, too..

It optionally can, yes. However, using said desktop icon still loads up Steam (same goes for any other launcher said games are tied to) to launch the game. There's even situations where, for example, you buy and install a game like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023). Your installation will also install Battle.net as well as run it when you launch the game, because that's the launcher/social crap that came with Call of Duty games at that time.

 > The launching from Steam is just a convenience, I thought.

I'm not so sure about that. I imagine there's probably some kind of exclusivity to where you can't just use any launcher for any game you want. If the launcher comes with the game, thay're going to make sure you can't bypass it, etc..

 > You can also add non-Steam games to your Steam
 > menu so you can launch those from Steam if you want to.

When I run "The Division 2" from Steam, that launch actually points to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher\games\Tom Clancy's The Division 2\thedivision2launcher.exe

When you add non-Steam games to your Steam library, you're still loading up the game's original launcher (in this case, Ubisoft launcher).

 > I added Minecraft to my Steam menu once, so that my Steam friends knew
 > when I was playing Minecraft (since Steam lets your friends know what 
 > you're playing).

Yep, and I'd bet when you hit the "play" button, it still loads up the Minecraft Launcher. Same scenario I'm referring to.

Either way, I don't think you can run the games you buy from a service like Steam or Ubisoft without the actual service you bought it from. Even if you were to find the actual executable, I'd guess it would still load the launcher that is originally tied to the game.

Regards,
Nick

.... Sarcasm: because beating people up is illegal.
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