When 2K removed its annoying launcher it broke a bunch of XCOM 2 mods

GamesStrategyWhen 2K removed its annoying launcher it broke a bunch of XCOM 2 modsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: 2K)

XCOM 2 with Warhammer 40,000 customization and weapons modded in

Late in 2024, 2K removed its launcher andeverybody cheered. This was not just another bit of obnoxious corporate bloatware, but one thatprevented Linux users from playing BioShockandaffected Midnight Suns' performance. Unfortunately, it’s not all been good news.

Look on the Steam forum for XCOM 2 and you’ll see threads noting thatsome mods no longer work, and having them installed can result inconsistent crashing. Similar complaints have appeared onReddit. Using theAlternative Mod Launcher, a community project that helped players get around the 2K launcher, doesn’t help either.

I did find a fix for this, however. Go into the directory where Steam keeps your XCOM 2 mods, which should be Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\268500, and then open the subdirectory for any mods you’ve got installed. Each one will have a file that ends in “.XComMod” which can be opened with Notepad. If it doesn’t have the line “RequiresXPACK=true” in there, add it at the end, then save. Do that for every mod you’ve downloaded, enable them in your mod launcher, and they should work. I’ve tried it with 40 different mods so far, from one thatrefreshes the reward deck when you enter the Avenger, to one that lets you outfit your soldiers inSisters of Battle armor, and they seem to be working fine.

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