The game launchers for Windows are an endemic evil in this sector that is motivated, mainly, by the need for developers to obtain the greatest number of data from their clients, not to pay commissions for using other platforms (Steam, Epic Games Store among others) in addition to to control, first-hand, the anti-copying system that they include as well as the platform they use to detect players who cheat. Fortunately, the solution to this problem is simpler than it might seem.
Whether using third-party applications or using little tricks, we can concentrate all the games in one place. We must bear in mind that, yes or yes, it is necessary to have the launchers installed on the computer, but, to reduce the number of resources they consume, it is advisable to eliminate them from the Windows startup.
playnite
Playnite is an application where we can add each and every game that we have installed on the computer, whether they are from Epic Games, Steam, Battle.Net, GOG, Origin and any other lesser known platform. In addition, it also allows us to add the list of all the games that we have purchased on each platform without the need to install it on the computer so that it is accessible and we can install them whenever we want without resorting to the corresponding launcher.
It shows the number of hours we have dedicated to each title, it is compatible with console emulators, it allows us to use it with a controller (not just a keyboard and mouse like all launchers), it shows a file for each of the installed games , it does not store any personal data on its servers, it has a portable application and, best of all, it is completely free. We can download Playnite directly from its website through the following link.
with a folder
The fastest and easiest solution to have all the games that we have installed on our computer is to create a folder where we move the shortcuts to run them. In addition, we can modify the icon of the folder so that it visually appears to be an application, although it is really nothing more than a simple folder where all the games that we have installed on the computer are located.
Using Steam
Steam is the oldest video game platform in digital format in the industry and has become, on its own merits, a reference that other companies such as Epic or GOG have followed without going any further. Steam allows us add games installed on our computer to the video game library, even if they are not available in it and launch them directly from the application. If our usual game launcher is that Valve application, we can use it as a launcher for all the games that we install on our computer, even if the user interface is not the most intuitive.
G.O.G.
Another of the video game platforms that also allows us to concentrate all the games that we have installed on the computer in one place is GOG. In fact, it is the most used solution, since it allows us to add each and every one of the installed games, regardless of whether they are exclusive to another platform. Also, the user interface is much clearer and more intuitive than the solution offered by Steam in this regard.
