Universal game runner for Steam
PC gaming is overrun with launchers. While competition is a good thing, not all launchers have the same feature set, and to date, no launcher has more features than Steam. PC gamers should be free to buy games from whichever launcher they want and still have the benefit of features like universal controller support, an in-game overlay with chat and a web browser, and screenshot functionality.
With SteamRunner, now you can!
SteamRunner manages the execution of games added to Steam from third-party libraries. Processes launched through SteamRunner will be attached to Steam and inherit full Steam Input and Steam Overlay functionality no matter which store they came from. This includes stores which are notoriously difficult to import to Steam at all.
Currently supported storefronts include: BattleNet, EA, Epic, GOG, Uplay
As SteamRunner is written in PowerShell, it can be operated in one of two ways: as a PowerShell script, or as a compiled EXE with PS2EXE (recommended). As the former comes with a number of additional quirks, this guide will only cover the latter. Advanced users may view PowerShell usage details within the script file itself.
Important: SteamRunner assumes you are already signed in to each platform before starting a game. If you are signed out, SteamRunner will likely open the launcher, but fail to launch the selected game. Make sure all platforms are signed in before proceeding.
- Download and extract the latest version of SteamRunner from releases
- Create a new shortcut in Steam via the Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library... menu. The actual subject of the shortcut doesn't matter, since it must be modified anyway. However, because the menu does not allow for importing the same item multiple times, you must select any application besides SteamRunner.
- Next, modify the new shortcut by right-clicking on it and choosing Properties.
- Set the shortcut name to the name of the game you wish to import. You may also add an icon from the game's directory here.
- Set the shortcut target to the full path for wherever you extracted
SteamRunner.exe. If the path has any spaces or special characters, enclose in quotes. (Ex:"C:\My Folder\SteamRunner.exe") - Set the shortcut start in directory to the root directory of your game.
- Set the shortcut launch options according to the following syntax:
StorePathGameName["admin"]
The exact values represented by the syntax above varies slightly depending on which storefront your game is launching from (see details below).
In addition, note that the GameName parameter is a filter which tells SteamRunner which process(es) to monitor. Multiple processes can be matched by using a wildcard (*) or pipe separator (|). For example, in the Kingdom Hearts HD collection, there are separate executables for each game in the collection, plus a loading screen application to hide transitions between each. Rather than name all 7+ executables manually, we can match them programmatically with just "KINGDOM HEARTS*|WaitTitleProject". This will match any processes starting with the words "KINGDOM HEARTS", and also the exact process "WaitTitleProject". GameName filters should not have an extension (e.g. .exe).
Finally, games which require account elevation (e.g. for anti-cheat) can have a fourth parameter added, "admin". If this string is present after GameName, SteamRunner will relaunch Steam as an administrator. You can then launch the game again and proceed. When the game exits, SteamRunner will then restore Steam to running as a standard user again.
BattleNet "C:\Program Files (x86)\Overwatch\_retail_\Overwatch.exe" "Overwatch"
Store name must be input as "BattleNet" without a dot. If applicable, use the main game executable rather than a launcher executable.
EA "C:\Program Files (x86)\EA Games\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Game\MassEffectLauncher.exe" "MassEffect*"
Supports EA Desktop only, not Origin.
If you see a warning that EABackgroundService.exe could not be closed, you will have to exit the current running instance of EA Desktop manually so that SteamRunner can launch its own attached process.
Epic "com.epicgames.launcher://apps/68c214c58f694ae88c2dab6f209b43e4?action=launch&silent=true" "KINGDOM HEARTS*|WaitTitleProject"
Uses URLs instead of executable paths. URLs have the format com.epicgames.launcher://apps/{AppName}?action=launch&silent=true, where AppName can be obtained from %PROGRAMDATA%\Epic\EpicGamesLauncher\Data\Manifests (open manifests with your preferred text editor). Alternatively, create a desktop shortcut from the Epic Games store and copy the URL from the shortcut properties. URLs must be enclosed in quotes.
Note that when exiting a game, Steam will temporarily show the launched title as still running. Although "QUIT" is displayed, do not press it. Simply wait for cloud syncing to complete in the background and the game will exit normally.
GOG "C:\Program Files (x86)\GOG Galaxy\Games\SWAT 4" "Swat4"
Uses paths to a game root directory only, not to an executable. (Executables are obtained from game IDs which are handled by SteamRunner and GOG Galaxy themselves.) GameName must still match the executable name(s), not the root directory name.
Uplay "C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Assassin's Creed 1\AssassinsCreed_Game.exe" "Assassins*"
Despite rebranding to "Ubisoft Connect", Ubisoft's platform is still internally referred to as "Uplay", so that's how it's referred to by SteamRunner.
- Add Rockstar Launcher support.
- Add Xbox/Microsoft Store support.
- Can use URLs such as
shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.MicrosoftSolitaireCollection_8wekyb3d8bbwe!Appto launch games from Steam, but will not inherit Steam Overlay/Steam Input/etc.
- Can use URLs such as
SteamRunner is provided as-is and comes without warranty or support. Steam, Battle.net, EA Desktop, Epic Games, GOG Galaxy, & Uplay are property of their respective owners. Icon based on designs by itim2101