Civilization 7 was confirmed just a few months ago, and it looks like it's already off to a good start—the game will not utilize the 2K launcher, which predecessors like Civ 6 also axed.
Let's face it: launchers are annoying, which is a sentiment that most PC gamers would agree with. If you're already using Steam, why grapple with publishers' extra launchers on top of Valve's own? That's a question fans of Sid Meier's Civilization series have often wondered, thanks to the 2K launcher - but they won't need to anymore. In a recent announcement, Firaxis Games community manager Sarah Engel reveals just that.
2K Launcher has been removed from Civ 6 and will not be implemented for Civ 7 from r/civ
"Earlier today, the 2K launcher has been removed from Civ 6 on Steam, with plans to also remove it on Epic in the near future," writes Engel. "I'm also confirming that Civ 7 will NOT utilize the 2K launcher."
Unsurprisingly, fans largely seem ecstatic in the responses. "Thank goodness," reads one excited player's reply. "I am very tired of having half a dozen launchers on my computer in addition to Steam."
"Absolute W," says another grateful fan. "Just fell to my knees at a Walmart." The news is especially welcome as the 2K launcher has been a hot topic among Civ players for a good few years now - from full-blown guides on Steam instructing others on how they can bypass it entirely to countless threads on forums like Reddit expressing the disappointment in having to go through it, the community has long sought to be rid of it.