You cannot directly launch Epic Games from Steam. Instead, you need to add Epic Games as a non-Steam game to your Steam library, which will allow you to launch the Epic Games launcher and its games through Steam.
Want to manage all your PC games from one place? Many gamers find it convenient to use Steam for their entire library. While Steam does not natively support Epic Games titles, there’s a clever workaround. This method involves adding the Epic Games launcher to Steam as a non-Steam game. Then you can launch the Epic Games application and start any games you want, all via your Steam interface. It’s not really launching Epic games directly from steam, but it achieves the same convenient result.
How to Launch Epic Games from Steam
So, you’ve got your favorite games spread across different launchers – Steam, Epic Games, maybe others too. It can be a bit of a juggling act, right? Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could keep most of your games in one place? Well, you actually can launch your Epic Games through Steam. It’s not exactly the same as having them installed there, but you can use Steam as a hub to get into your Epic Games. This means you can use Steam’s handy features like overlay while playing your Epic games. Let’s explore how to do this.
Why Launch Epic Games from Steam?
Before we jump into the “how,” let’s talk about the “why.” There are several good reasons why you might want to launch your Epic Games from Steam:
- Convenience: It’s simpler to have all your games accessible from one place. No more hunting for different launchers!
- Steam Overlay: Enjoy Steam’s overlay features like in-game chat, screenshots, and even streaming. These features usually are not available for games launched through other platform.
- Friend Activity: See what your friends on Steam are playing, even if they’re playing an Epic game that you’ve added to your library.
- Game Time Tracking: Steam tracks the time you spend playing, even for games added as non-Steam games. You can keep better tabs on your playtime.
Adding an Epic Game as a Non-Steam Game
The primary way to make this happen is to add your Epic Games as “non-Steam games.” Don’t worry, it’s quite easy and doesn’t involve any coding or overly technical stuff. Here’s the process:
Step-by-Step Guide:
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Find the Epic Game’s Executable: First, you need to know where your Epic Game is installed. The file we need is a file ending with “.exe”, which helps your computer know that it is an application. Go to where you installed your Epic game, and look for the main application file (Usually you can find that in the folder where the game is installed). If you are having a hard time, you can follow below path, generally the games are installed in below path,
C:\Program Files\Epic Games\[Game Name]\[GameName].exe. -
Open Steam: Launch the Steam client on your computer.
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Add a Non-Steam Game: Look at the bottom left corner of the Steam Window. you can see the “Add a game” button, click on it. Then click the “Add a Non-Steam Game…” option.
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Browse to the Game’s EXE: A new window will pop up showing the list of all applications in your computer, Click the “Browse” button. You’ll need to navigate to the folder where your Epic Game is installed. Then, find and click the executable file (the .exe file) for the game you wish to add. Click open button.
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Add Selected Programs: The executable file for your Epic game will now appear on the window with list of all the applications, Tick the checkbox next to your game, and then click the “Add Selected Programs” button. Your game is now added to your Steam library.
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Find Your Game: Go to your Steam library. You’ll see the Epic Game listed. It might not have a fancy image, but it’s there!.
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Rename Your Game (Optional) : Sometimes, the name of the game isn’t quite right. Right-click on the newly added game in your Steam library, select properties and rename the game to the correct name. This will also help you find the game easily in your game library.
Customizing Your Non-Steam Game
While your Epic game is now accessible through Steam, there are a few customizations you can do to make the experience better:
Adding Custom Artwork
The default image for non-Steam games is quite dull. Fortunately, you can add custom images to make your library look more organized. Here is how :
- Find Images: Search online for artwork related to your Epic Game. You’ll need images for the game’s icon (the small square image), the banner/header (the long, narrow image), and the background (the full image). Image types like JPEG, PNG are perfectly suitable.
- Right-Click Game: Right click on the game you added to the Steam library. Go to ‘Manage’ option, and you will find different options like ‘Add custom artwork’ , ‘Add custom icon’, ‘Add custom background’.
- Add Artwork: Click on the specific options like, Add custom icon and browse for the location of the custom image you want to use for Icon, Banner, or background and select the image.
Once you’ve done this for each artwork type, your Epic Game in Steam will look like an actual game in your library.
Using Launch Options
Sometimes you might want to use specific launch parameters for your game. These can help with certain compatibility issues or fine-tune game settings. You can add these parameters to your non-steam game as well.
- Right Click Game: Right click on the game you added to the Steam library, and click ‘Properties’.
- Set Launch Options: In the ‘General’ tab you will find the section called ‘Launch Options’. You can now add the launch options you want to use and click the close button.
Some common launch options might include things like “-windowed” to launch in windowed mode or other game specific settings.
Limitations of Launching Epic Games Through Steam
While this method works great for convenience and Steam features, it’s good to know the limitations:
- No Automatic Updates: Steam won’t update your Epic Games. You’ll still need to use the Epic Games Launcher for updates.
- No Integrated Achievements: You will not get Steam Achievements for the Epic games launched through Steam. Any achievements for the game will still be on the Epic platform only.
- Epic Games Launcher Still Required: You still need the Epic Games Launcher to be installed on your computer. Steam simply starts the game, it doesn’t download or control the game files.
- Some Games Might Not Work Perfectly: Some older or less common games might not work well when launched through Steam in this way. There may be compatibility issues.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even though it’s straightforward, things can sometimes go wrong. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:
Game Doesn’t Launch
If the game doesn’t start when you click ‘Play’ on Steam:
- Double-Check the EXE Path: Make absolutely sure you selected the correct .exe file for the game. If the game is uninstalled or you have moved the installation folder, then you need to update the new location for the game.
- Run as Administrator: Right-click the game in Steam, then ‘Properties’. On the ‘Shortcut’ tab, make sure “Run this program as an administrator” is checked. This can solve permission problems.
- Update Graphics Drivers: Sometimes, outdated graphics drivers can cause problems. Make sure your video card drivers are updated to the newest version.
- Restart Steam and Computer: Sometimes a simple restart can fix the problem. Close Steam and restart your computer and try again.
Steam Overlay Not Working
If the Steam overlay doesn’t appear when you launch the game:
- Enable Overlay: Go to Steam settings, then ‘In-Game’ and make sure “Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game” is ticked.
- Check for Conflicts: Some other programs might interfere with the Steam overlay. Try closing other overlays (like the one in Discord, if you use it) and try again.
- Update Steam Client: It is important to have the updated version of the Steam Client. Make sure that you have the latest update installed.
Game is Still Launching the Epic Games Launcher
If the Epic Games Launcher pops up every time you try to launch the game, it means that the non-Steam shortcut is pointing to the Epic launcher instead of the game executable. Make sure that you point to the game executable file which ends with “.exe”.
Benefits for Specific Game Types
This method can be particularly useful for certain types of games. Let’s consider a couple of examples:
- Single-Player Games: For single-player experiences, it’s great to be able to use Steam’s overlay for screenshots and notes, all while keeping your game collection neat.
- Multiplayer Games with Steam Friends: If your friends play a lot on Steam, but you want to play a game on Epic with them, this allows you to keep track of what they’re playing, and you can also send them messages, even if you are on different gaming platforms.
Keeping Your Library Organized
Once you start adding many Epic Games to your Steam library as non-Steam games, it is important to keep things organized so that you can find your game easily. Here are some tips for organizing the non-Steam games:
Use Categories
Steam lets you create categories for your games. You can make a category just for “Epic Games” or even more specific ones for different game genres. To create a category, right-click the game and go to ‘Categories’.
Use Custom Artwork
As discussed above, use custom artwork to ensure that all of your non-steam games look visually aligned with the steam games. This will create a professional and well maintained library.
Rename The Games
Make sure that the game titles are correct. This will ensure that you can find your games quickly and easily from your library.
In conclusion, launching your Epic Games from Steam provides a convenient way to centralize your gaming experience and take advantage of the Steam overlay and other features. It’s a quick process that anyone can do, but it does come with certain limitations. As long as you’re aware of these and do proper troubleshooting if needed, you can have a nice, centralized gaming hub using Steam for all your games. Now you can enjoy your Epic Games with extra Steam features!
How To Launch Epic Games From Steam (Tutorial)
Final Thoughts
To launch Epic Games from Steam, simply add them as a non-Steam game. You achieve this through the “Add a Game” option in Steam’s library. This makes accessing your Epic titles easier, creating a central spot for all your gaming.
Now you can quickly launch games bought from Epic while still in the familiar Steam interface. This is how to launch epic games from steam, combining your library for simplified management.
