Rockstar Games Launcher: We install it on Windows so you don’t have to

Currently, the app includes zero exclusives or apparent discounts compared to other retailers, so why should gamers install it?

For now, there’s one carrot-dangle: a free copy of 2004’s (currently $14.99 on rival services like Steam). Rockstar did not confirm exactly how long this freebie offer will last. For now, once you install the launcher, it immediately advertises your ability to claim a free  license.

(This only works within the Rockstar launcher, as opposed to providing a code that can be loaded into another service.)

As far as a good reason for the launcher’s existence, I can’t help but read between the lines. Ever since the launch of on Xbox One and PS4 consoles last year, rumors and speculation have pointed to an impending PC version of the game. And like before it, includes a massive, microtransaction-fueled online mode. Rockstar may very well believe that a game as big as is convincing enough for fans to skip existing launchers and install yet another EXE on their Windows machines to play the company’s most recent open-world adventure.

The below gallery explores exactly how the launcher works as of today’s launch. In terms of native game launching, it includes positives like cloud save support and simple “move files to new directory” options (features that the Epic Games Store is still fumbling). But it has negatives, too, like a lack of an easily selectable “downloads” management tab. The launcher also includes a full-fledged store with a variety of global payment systems, but as of press time, it only offers Rockstar’s catalog of PC games—and it’s missing a significant number of Rockstar classics, including 1, 2, and 4,, and 1 & 2.

Rockstar Games did not immediately respond to our questions about whether to expect other developers’ games on the service or whether Rockstar will launch any games exclusively on RGL in the future.