I'm permanently annoyed with the launcher thing, too. I wish someone would come up with a software store app that 1) installed all the right crap so the game works right and 2) didn't require you to open the app to open the game. Steam, for example, lets you install the game with a start menu shortcut, but if you don't have Steam open, clicking on the start menu shortcut opens Steam first, then Steam launches the friggin' game. Then there is the Bethesda launcher. Then Blizzard's Battle.net launcher. There's an Xbox launcher. Yadda yadda. I don't know if their primary goal is monopoly as much as it is forcing you to open a program with a store in it so you see stuff to buy when you want to play a game. I think having a monopoly is secondary. Primary to them is forcing you to see that they have more shit for you to buy. I'm pretty sure Apple's iTunes is the one that started it all. Let's integrate shopping for music into the computer. Then, the phone. Now it's not just music. It's every friggin' thing. People with shopping addictions must have a hard time if they're also gamers or fans of other digital media.

[–] Iapar@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think you can choose your library as the startscreen when steam opens.

But I think you are right that the game should open without starting steam. I would guess it has something to do with DRM? because with GOG you can just download the game and start it from desktop without launcher.

[–] FinalBoy1975@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Yes, your library can be the start screen when it opens. But first you must see the other window (that I always close without reading) telling you about today's "special deal" or some game you might like to buy.