Why does Steam insist on installing DirectX every time...

Malevolence

Malevolence

Malevolence

Soldato
Joined
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...you install a new (new to Steam) game?

r8cWKNF.png


I mean, who is gaming on Windows and doesn't already have DirectX installed? Surely the better option would be for the application to check first and then skip installing it. Same goes for it always installing some flavour of MS Visual C++ with games too.
 
Mine doesn't do it every time but probably a third of installs do - not really sure why with the DX runtimes - unfortunately with the C++ ones they are a bit of a mess and unless the game has access to the specific version it was built against you'll often get errors, etc. so there isn't really any choice but to install it every time with a game.
 
Hardly a crime is it? Unless you are running a calculator?

Also, it is to ensure your "host" contains the same files as the ones the devs were working with otherwise in some instances, the game would not even start :D

A "version check" alone would not mean they had the same files, if that makes sense?
 
It doesn't do a full install, it goes off and checks. You can run Steam Cleaner to recover the space the files use once it's done a install.
 
Even if the game was on DVD, the installer would go through the same process anyway because the developer has told it to do so, but it is not Steams fault.

Blame Microsoft or contact the developer :D
 
same as mine on win7, well every retail game ever made whether online or disc wants to install dx from what i've witnessed

at least it's not as bad as the old days where you got asked if you want to install punkbuster and gamespy etc then a separate multi-player client after it did its dx install and end up with 15 icons on your desktop :D
 
On my main steam drive in steamapps/common I recently noticed a new folder called "Steamworks Shared" and it only contains redistributables for direct x, c++ etc. Wonder if they are pooling these installers in one place now?
 
Malevolence said:
...you install a new (new to Steam) game?

r8cWKNF.png


I mean, who is gaming on Windows and doesn't already have DirectX installed? Surely the better option would be for the application to check first and then skip installing it. Same goes for it always installing some flavour of MS Visual C++ with games too.
Click to expand...
it installs required libaries

Direct X is vast in size by default it installs what it required to run most applications. Some games use updated libraries that are not on your computer, which why they are installed. why install everything & bloat direct X & your OS?

Microsoft c++ libraries: Most games use c++ libraries provided by MS. each year MS improve these libraries with new features & can alter the way things are done. why do you need to install all not the latest? because

Games from Various years are built and complied on A particular library set. games developed in
2008 might use 2008 Library set
2011 might use 2010 Libary set.

The developer would need to edit their libraries links & re-test everything that makes a library call from the newer versions.

Also imagine if Libary set 2018 Broke support for X libary calls for a game developed in 2009. Developer is not going to fix what is not their fault.

Its Safer, Smart & potentially HDD saving, than Installing everything by default
 
As above, there are many different builds of DirectX and games use different ones. The same with Visual C++. I have no less than 19 different entries in my uninstall programs window for Visual C++ redistributable.
 
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