protonscr

Suggestion: Shared Redistributables / Launcher Updates Optimization

protonclosed
ValveSoftware/Proton#9783 · opened 2026-05-14 by VladimirMrzv · updated 2026-05-14 · 2 comments · github
VVladimirMrzv 2026-05-14 github

Hi Steam Support Team,

I would like to suggest a feature to improve how Steam handles updates for games that use the same third-party launcher (e.g., EA App, Rockstar Games, Ubisoft Connect).

The Problem:
Currently, when a third-party launcher has an update, Steam attempts to download and apply that update individually for every single game that uses it. This wastes bandwidth, disk I/O, and time.

Recent Example:
Just a few days ago, there was an update for the Ubisoft Connect launcher. Because I have several Ubisoft games installed, Steam started downloading the exact same launcher update files for every single one of them simultaneously. This is highly redundant.

Proposed Solution:

I suggest implementing a "Shared Launcher Component" system, similar to how Steam handles "Steamworks Common Redistributables."

  1. Steam could identify common third-party launcher files and store them in a single shared directory.
  2. When the launcher needs an update, Steam would download it once and link it to all relevant games.
  3. This would prevent redundant downloads and make managing a library with many external-launcher games much more efficient.

This would be a significant "Quality of Life" improvement for users with limited data caps or slower internet connections.

Thank you for your time and for making Steam better!

VVladimirMrzv 2026-05-14 github

I would also like to emphasize that this is a critical issue for Steam Deck and other handheld users.

  1. Storage space: Redundant launcher files consume precious space on internal SSDs or MicroSD cards.
  2. Battery & Hardware life: Multiple simultaneous updates increase CPU and Disk usage, which drains the battery faster and adds unnecessary write cycles to the SSD.
  3. User Experience: On a handheld device, users expect a "pick up and play" experience. Having to wait for 5 identical launcher updates just to play one game significantly degrades this experience.

Implementing shared launcher components would be a major Quality of Life improvement for the entire SteamOS/Proton ecosystem.

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2026-05-14 github

Hello @VladimirMrzv, this request is functionally a duplicate of #604. Closing in favor of the older feature request.

Nothing extracted yet.