Many major PC games use a publisher launcher or another store instead of Steam. The safe method is simple: identify the game's publisher, open its official download page, secure the required account, and install only that client. A launcher is not a compatibility patch or a universal ownership system—Riot, Epic, Battle.net and HoYoPlay each manage their own catalogues and account rules.
The short answer
Use Riot Client for Riot PC games, Epic Games Launcher for Epic's store and titles such as Fortnite, Battle.net for Blizzard's catalogue, and HoYoPlay for supported HoYoverse games. The launcher itself is generally free; the game may be free-to-play, paid, subscription-based or temporarily free to claim. Never pay for a 'launcher key,' and never install an unofficial all-in-one client that asks for multiple store passwords.
Official PC launcher comparison
| Launcher | Typical reason to install | Game cost examples | Official start | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riot Client | League of Legends, VALORANT and other Riot PC titles | Free-to-play with optional purchases | leagueoflegends.com/en-us/download | Riot account and title-specific anti-cheat requirements |
| Epic Games Launcher | Fortnite, Epic catalogue and weekly free-to-keep claims | Free-to-play, paid and timed giveaways | store.epicgames.com/download | Another store library and background updater |
| Battle.net | World of Warcraft, Overwatch 2, Diablo and Blizzard titles | Free-to-play, paid and subscription depending on game | download.battle.net | Blizzard account plus product-specific licenses |
| HoYoPlay | Genshin Impact and supported HoYoverse PC games | Free-to-play with optional purchases | genshin.hoyoverse.com | Large live-service downloads and HoYoverse account |
| EA app | EA catalogue and some subscription access | Free, paid or EA Play depending on title | ea.com/ea-app | Some purchases still require EA account linking |
| Xbox app | PC Game Pass and Microsoft PC installs | Paid games and optional subscription | xbox.com/apps/xbox-app-for-pc | Licensing and availability depend on Microsoft account and region |
Pick the launcher from the game, not the other way around
Do not install six clients because a generic list calls them essential. Start with the game you actually want, open its DealCheckpoint game page, then follow the named official store. If you want League of Legends, the Riot path is relevant; if you want Genshin Impact, HoYoPlay is relevant. A launcher without a wanted game only adds another account, updater and notification surface.
Some games appear in more than one PC store but still require a publisher account or secondary client. Buying on Steam does not always remove EA, Ubisoft or Rockstar account linking, and adding a non-Steam shortcut does not transfer ownership into Steam. Read the live product page's account and launcher requirements before paying.
Free launcher does not mean free game
Every launcher in the table can be downloaded without buying a separate launcher license. That says nothing about the product inside it. Fortnite and League of Legends are ongoing free-to-play games; a weekly Epic giveaway is a normally paid product offered for a limited claim window; World of Warcraft may involve trial access, game content and subscription terms; a PC Game Pass listing depends on an active subscription and regional catalogue.
| Label | What you receive | Deadline behavior | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free-to-play | Access to an ongoing service without a box price | Usually no claim deadline | Optional purchases, account and server status |
| Free-to-keep giveaway | A paid license added for $0 during a promotion | Must be claimed before the published deadline | Edition, platform and region |
| Free weekend or trial | Temporary access for a stated period | Access ends or becomes limited | Exact end time and save carry-over |
| Subscription catalogue | Access while membership and catalogue eligibility continue | Game can leave the service | Membership tier, region and DLC |
| Paid game | A license under that store's terms | Sale may expire | Refund rules and activation platform |
Read giveaways versus free-to-play if those labels are still easy to mix up. The difference prevents both missed claims and false 'free forever' assumptions.
Safe installation checklist
- Search for the game's official publisher page, then verify the domain before downloading.
- Read the operating-system, storage, account and anti-cheat requirements on the live page.
- Create one publisher account with a unique password and enable the strongest available 2FA.
- Download the installer directly from the publisher or a supported operating-system store.
- Choose an install drive with room for the initial files and future updates.
- Let the signed launcher update itself; do not replace missing files from random mirrors.
- Confirm the correct region and existing console or publisher account before linking services.
- Disable unnecessary start-with-Windows and marketing notifications after installation if the client offers those settings.
- Keep purchase receipts and recovery codes, but never share passwords or one-time codes with 'support' in chat.
- Uninstall only after checking whether the option also deletes downloaded game files or local saves.
Account security across multiple clients
A password manager is more valuable than memorizing one strong password and reusing it everywhere. Give Riot, Epic, Battle.net, HoYoverse, EA and Microsoft separate credentials, then enable two-factor authentication where offered. Epic's official download page explicitly recommends 2FA, Battle.net advertises two-factor authentication in its desktop ecosystem, and HoYoverse recommends 2FA plus a linked email and warns against account sharing and unofficial top-ups.
Account linking deserves a pause. If a launcher detects an existing console or publisher identity, check whether that is the account containing your progress before creating another one. Duplicate identities can make purchases, friends and cross-progression appear to be missing. Use official support for unlinking; do not give a stranger remote access to 'merge' accounts.
Storage and update planning
The small launcher download is not the game's final storage cost. Live-service games can reserve space for unpacking, high-resolution assets and future patches. Check the current product requirement, keep additional free space on the target drive, and install one large game at a time. A nearly full SSD can turn a routine patch into a failed download even when the advertised launcher size is tiny.
HoYoPlay's official FAQ says existing game resources can be scanned or manually located when moving from an older official launcher, and its uninstall flow can separately control whether game resources are deleted. That is a launcher-specific feature, not permission to point it at repacked files. Follow the current official instructions for the client you use.
Anti-cheat and system access
Competitive games may install anti-cheat components and can require supported operating-system security settings. Read the publisher's current requirement before installation, especially on Linux, handheld PCs, virtual machines or older Windows versions. A community workaround that launches today may stop after an update and can sit outside official account support.
Do not disable core security protections permanently just to satisfy a random tutorial. If an official installer is blocked, first verify its digital source and use the publisher's own troubleshooting article. The Steam Deck free-games guide shows why a game being free on PC does not automatically make its anti-cheat compatible with SteamOS.
Can you add these games to Steam?
Steam can create shortcuts to programs that were installed elsewhere. This may provide a convenient library tile or controller launch path, but it does not move the license, achievements, refund rights, cloud saves or update responsibility into Steam. The publisher launcher may still open and still require its account.
Use a shortcut only for personal organization. Avoid third-party library tools that ask you to submit every store password or session token. A visual library is not worth creating a single point of failure for all gaming accounts.
When a launcher will not update
Start with the boring checks: confirm the publisher's service status, free disk space, supported operating system, system time and network stability; then restart the official launcher and use its built-in repair or locate-files function if documented. Keep screenshots of the exact error code. Search the publisher support site for that code instead of downloading replacement DLL files from an unrelated site.
If reinstalling becomes necessary, identify saves and downloaded resources first. Some games use cloud saves, some store local files, and some launchers offer a choice to keep the large game directory. Do not assume uninstalling only removes the small client.
Managing several launchers without clutter
Keep only clients tied to games you actively play. Turn off automatic startup where it is not needed, reduce marketing notifications, and open the client manually before a planned session so updates can complete. Review account security and unused linked apps a few times per year. Removing an unused launcher does not necessarily delete the publisher account or revoke purchased licenses; those are separate actions.
A simple folder of official shortcuts is enough. DealCheckpoint's weekly free-game page and deal pages can help you decide what is worth installing without turning the site into another launcher that handles credentials.
Who this guide is for
Fit: Steam-first Windows players who want a specific Riot, Epic, Blizzard, HoYoverse, EA or Xbox title and are comfortable maintaining its official account. Not a fit: anyone seeking pirated launchers, shared accounts, region bypasses, unsupported anti-cheat workarounds or a tool that secretly merges ownership across stores.
Is Epic Games Launcher safe?
Yes when it is downloaded from Epic's official store domain. Epic documents the installer, automatic updates and account-level 2FA. A fake advertisement or repack using the Epic name is not the same product, so verify the domain and never send an authentication code to a supposed helper.
Do I need Steam installed too?
No, not for a title whose official PC path is entirely Riot, Epic, Battle.net or HoYoPlay. Keep Steam only for games and features you use there. Some Steam purchases can still call a publisher service, so the individual product page—not a general rule—decides.
Current-status check
Official download, security and launcher guidance for Epic Games Launcher, Riot's League installer, Battle.net and HoYoPlay was checked July 26, 2026. Client names, operating-system support, catalogues and account-link rules can change; the official page linked at the moment of installation outranks this dated guide.
