Steam Community :: Guide :: Skip launcher and use desired graphical API (Vulkan/DX11)

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Skip launcher and use desired graphical API (Vulkan/DX11)

By I hate you.

This guide will help you to start your game from steam library without Larian Launcher with your desired graphical API(Vulkan/DX11)

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Created by

I hate you.
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Category: Modding or Configuration

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

4 Aug, 2023 @ 5:27pm

5 Aug, 2023 @ 6:16pm

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Guide Index

Overview

Introduction

Skip launcher if you want to use DX11

Skip launcher if you want to use Vulkan

Start Vulkan version without skipping launcher

Comments

Introduction

This guide aims at helping players with:
1) Skip launcher
2) Use desired graphical API version (VULKAN/DX11)
3) Launching Vulkan version without having to choose it every time if player still want to use Larian Launcher

Skip launcher if you want to use DX11

This method is recommended if you want to use DX11 version of the game:

Right click your BG3 game in Steam library and select "Properties"
Write text below into "Launch options" window:
--skip-launcher
Now you can launch game from your steam library

Skip launcher if you want to use Vulkan

This method is used for Vulkan version of the game, but you can use it for DX11 as well

Right click your BG3 game in Steam library and select "Properties"
Write full path to game's exe into "Launch options" window and then add %command%, your Launch options window should look like this, " " are needed:
"D:\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\bg3.exe" %command%
If you want to use this method for DX11 simply change "bg3.exe" to "bg3_dx11.exe"
"D:\Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\bin\bg3_dx11.exe" %command%

Start Vulkan version without skipping launcher

Right click your BG3 game in Steam Library and select "Browse local files"
Navigate your folders to ..Steam\steamapps\common\Baldurs Gate 3\Launcher
Locate launcher.cfg file and open it
Edit line

"dx11": "..\\bin\\bg3_dx11.exe"
to look like this

"dx11": "..\\bin\\bg3.exe"

Now when you select DirectX11 in Larian Launcher it will launch Vulkan version of the game

Please take notice that after you make edits to launcher.cfg your Larian Launcher may display this message:
You can safely ignore it.

23 Comments

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Crowned15 30 Mar @ 5:09pm

Was helpful, thanks

Mozek 29 Aug, 2023 @ 12:41am

Thanks

judge 14 Aug, 2023 @ 5:16am

if you want to run BG3 and load your last save game, write the text below into "Launch options" window:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--skip-launcher -continueGame launch param
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry About That 13 Aug, 2023 @ 5:14pm

I put " --skip-launcher " in launch options, removing the "''s from the copy/paste. Application opens and immediately closes.

I hate you. [author] 12 Aug, 2023 @ 9:25am

I switched version to dx11 an it's indeed works with deck streaming. When I did this I headed to options to change aspect ratio to 16:10, and it works.

MyNuts2YourFist 12 Aug, 2023 @ 9:15am

Streaming to the deck works fine for me, but, since I have an ultrawide monitor, BG3 streams to my deck in a 21:9 ratio instead of the usual 16:10 of the deck, which leaves huge black bars on the top and bottom of the screen :(

I *could* change the resolution to something with a 16:9 ratio on the desktop, but then I have to change the resolution every time I want to stream to the deck, which is doable, but not very convenient.

Ruji 12 Aug, 2023 @ 7:44am

Hey there for vulkan version skipping launcher dont you just add --vulkan along with the skip launcher? Not that fancy command thing you have here?

I hate you. [author] 12 Aug, 2023 @ 2:16am

I had no success trying to change resolution via game properties.

You can try changing values in graphicSettings.lsx which can be found at C:\Users\*your_username*\AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3
Look for these lines of code (I'm using 4k):

<node id="ConfigEntry">
<attribute id="MapKey" type="FixedString" value="ScreenHeight"/>
<attribute id="Type" type="int32" value="0"/>
<attribute id="Value" type="int32" value="2160"/>
</node>
<node id="ConfigEntry">
<attribute id="MapKey" type="FixedString" value="ScreenWidth"/>
<attribute id="Type" type="int32" value="0"/>
<attribute id="Value" type="int32" value="3840"/>

I tried streaming to deck, but I get black screen on deck even if my resolution on pc is set to 1280x800

MyNuts2YourFist 12 Aug, 2023 @ 12:53am

is there a way to launch the game in a custom resolution? say maybe, with a command line option, something like --1920x1080? My main computer has an ultra-wide monitor, but I'm trying to stream BG3 to my steam deck.

Сerdiс 10 Aug, 2023 @ 5:43am

Thanks

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