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Removing Rockstar Games Launcher from GTA IV

WARNING (READ, DO NOT SKIP!)#

  • This is only for the Steam version of Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition. You can't remove the Rockstar Game Launcher from the Rockstar Game Launcher version of GTA IV.

  • This disables achievements. Achievements are triggered through Rockstar Games Launcher, without that, you can't unlock achievements. If you want achievements, you just have to keep Rockstar Games Launcher.

  • This mod moves the save directory from the Documents folder to a dedicated save folder in your GTAIV folder. If you have saves, you'll have to move them to Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto IV\GTAIV\save\GTA IV.

  • If you need to report bugs to mod authors, clarfiy that you're using this mod when describing the issue.

Introduction#

Rockstar Games Launcher causes a lot of problems for people, it's easily the biggest complaint people have when using The Complete Edition of GTA IV. Sometimes it won't let you sign in, it often crashes the game on launch and it's also a nightmare to deal with on Steam Deck.

Thankfully we have a way to remove it with a mod called RGLess.

Download & Installation#

  1. Download RGLess from your preferred source.

  2. Open your game folder and rename GTAIV.exe, PlayGTAIV.exe and binkw32.dll to GTAIVbak.exe, PlayGTAIVbak.exe and binkw32bak.dll.

    Tip

    If you're not sure how to find your game folder...

    • Steam: You can find it by right clicking on Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition in your Steam library, going to Manage and then clicking Browse Local Files. The GTAIV folder is where GTAIV.exe is located.

    • Steam Deck/Machine: Launch the Steam application while on your desktop, locate Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition in your Steam Library, right click (Left Trigger on controller) on the game to open the context menu, go to Manage and then click (Right Trigger on controller) Browse Local Files. The GTAIV folder is where GTAIV.exe is located.

  3. Open the archive you just downloaded and then copy and paste everything from the archive into your game folder where GTAIV.exe is located.

Uninstallation#

  1. Delete GTAIV.exe, PlayGTAIV.exe and binkw32.dll.

  2. Rename GTAIVbak.exe, PlayGTAIVbak.exe and binkw32bak.dll back to GTAIV.exe, PlayGTAIV.exe and binkw32.dll.

Credits#

  • Anonymous

This is not my mod, nobody knows who created it and it's not hosted on this website. This page is simply for archival and educational purposes.

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