If you didn’t like the 2K Launcher, you have reason to be happy: Civilization VII will do without the tool – and the same will soon be true for Civilization VI.
The detour via developers’ or publishers’ own launchers is a nuisance for many PC gamers, as you need another external tool in addition to Steam or the Epic Games Store – and often only for a specific title. This was also the case with Sid Meier’s Civilization VI – but that is now changing!
Firaxis has confirmed that the recently announced Civilization VII will no longer require the 2K Launcher as a requirement. Even better: the current and already available Civilization VI will also avoid the 2K Launcher in the future thanks to a new update and will subsequently drop the corresponding requirement.
So if you have bought a copy of Civilization VI on Steam, you will no longer need the 2K Launcher and can play the title directly via Steam – without any additional tools.
In a subreddit about the game, a community manager confirmed that 2K also plans to drop this requirement in the Epic Games Store in the future; however, it remains to be seen when this will happen there.
Fans of the turn-based strategy game were largely pleased about the elimination of the requirement and celebrated 2K and Firaxis for this step.