Gaming PC setup: launchers, runtimes and tools

Steam, Discord and the runtimes that most games require. The extended list holds the other launchers, Xbox, mod managers and hardware monitoring.

Open this bundle in WinMate

Core apps

  1. SteamValve's PC gaming platform, store and launcher.
    winget install --id Valve.Steam --exact --source winget
  2. DiscordVoice, video and text chat for communities, gaming groups and friends.
    winget install --id Discord.Discord --exact --source winget
  3. Visual C++ Redistributables (2005–2022)All Microsoft Visual C++ runtimes (2005–2022, x86 and x64) that many games and programs need.
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2005.x86 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2005.x64 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2008.x86 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2008.x64 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2010.x86 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2010.x64 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2012.x86 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2012.x64 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2013.x86 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2013.x64 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2015+.x86 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.VCRedist.2015+.x64 --exact --source winget
  4. DirectX End-User RuntimeLegacy DirectX 9–11 components (D3DX, XAudio, XInput) needed by many older games.
    winget install --id Microsoft.DirectX --exact --source winget
  5. .NET Desktop Runtime (8 & 10).NET 8 and .NET 10 Windows Desktop Runtimes required by many modern Windows apps.
    winget install --id Microsoft.DotNet.DesktopRuntime.8 --exact --source winget
    winget install --id Microsoft.DotNet.DesktopRuntime.10 --exact --source winget

Extended selection

Optional additions. They start unticked in WinMate; tick the ones you need.

  1. Epic Games LauncherLauncher for the Epic Games Store, Fortnite and Unreal Engine – with free weekly games.
    winget install --id EpicGames.EpicGamesLauncher --exact --source winget
  2. GOG GalaxyGOG's DRM-free game launcher that can connect libraries from other platforms.
    winget install --id GOG.Galaxy --exact --source winget
  3. EA appElectronic Arts' launcher for EA games and EA Play.
    winget install --id ElectronicArts.EADesktop --exact --source winget
  4. Ubisoft ConnectUbisoft's launcher for Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Anno and more.
    winget install --id Ubisoft.Connect --exact --source winget
  5. Battle.netBlizzard's launcher for World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and Call of Duty.
    winget install --id Blizzard.BattleNet --exact --source winget
  6. Xbox appMicrosoft's Xbox app for PC Game Pass, the Microsoft Store games and friends.
    winget install --id 9MV0B5HZVK9Z --source msstore --accept-package-agreements
  7. XNA Framework RedistributableXNA Framework 4.0 runtime needed by some indie games like Terraria and Stardew Valley (older versions).
    winget install --id Microsoft.XNARedist --exact --source winget
  8. OpenALOpenAL audio runtime required by some older games.
    winget install --id CreativeTechnology.OpenAL --exact --source winget
  9. MSI AfterburnerGraphics card overclocking, fan control and in-game FPS overlay.
    winget install --id Guru3D.Afterburner --exact --source winget
  10. HWiNFOIn-depth hardware information and real-time sensor monitoring.
    winget install --id REALiX.HWiNFO --exact --source winget

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