What are Steamworks Redistributables? A Beginner‘s Guide

Hey friend! As a fellow gaming enthusiast, I know you‘ve probably seen those "Steamworks common redistributables" installed on your system and wondered what they are. Well, let me walk you through the need-to-know details so you can master the magic behind Steam!

Redistributables – A Quick Definition

Let‘s start with what redistributables actually are.

Redistributables are reusable software components that are shared between multiple applications. Rather than each apphaving its own copy, the code is installed in a central place that all the programs can access.

Some examples:

DirectX – graphics and gaming APIs used by games.
Visual C++ – runtimes for apps built with Visual Studio.
.NET Framework – runtimes for .NET apps.

Make sense? By centralizing common components, redistributables save disk space and simplify dependencies.

Now let‘s see how this applies to Steam…

What is Steamworks?

Steamworks refers to all the tools, services and tech Steam provides to game developers. The goal is to help them integrate Steam features like:

Multiplayer and matchmaking
Leaderboards and achievements
In-game transactions
Cloud saves
Broadcasting
DLC and content delivery
Anti-cheat protection

And more! Over 27 services in all.

These features allow games to deliver the best connected experience on Steam. But how does the tech actually work under the hood?

That‘s where Steamworks redistributables come in…

The Role of Steamworks Redistributables

Steamworks relies on various shared components – the redistributables. These libraries provide the backbone for Steamworks services to function properly across all games.

Without redistributables, Steamworks features would have to be rebuilt into each game manually. Instead, the centralized libraries handle the complexity behind the scenes.

For players, this means:

📥 No need to install extra software
⚡ Consistent experience across games
🛠️ Seamless integration for developers
🔧 Easy troubleshooting and updating

Redistributables power Steamworks! Now let‘s break down exactly what‘s included…

What‘s in the Steamworks Redistributables Package?

There are a mix of libraries and dependencies bundled into the "Steamworks Common Redistributables" package, including:

DirectX

The DirectX graphics API and associated runtimes are some of the most important components. Almost every Steam game utilizes DirectX for:

Hardware acceleration
High performance graphics
Supporting advanced visual effects

Multiple DirectX redistributables are included – like DirectX 9, 10, 11, 12 etc.

Visual C++ Runtimes

Many Steam games are built using Visual C++ tools. The runtimes allow distribution of that code without needing end users to install Visual Studio.

There are both 32-bit and 64-bit VC++ runtimes:

2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019

Supporting this wide range helps maintain compatibility with older games.

Steam DLLs

These dynamic link libraries contain functions used by Steam client features like networking, DRM, DLC delivery, voice chat and so on.

DLLs help the Steam client integrate with games.

VCRedist & .NET Framework

Additional Microsoft runtime components may be included, like:

Visual C++ Redistributables
Portions of the .NET Framework

This supports Steamworks plugins and other tools built on those frameworks.

Vulkan Runtime

Vulkan is a cross-platform graphics API that serves as an alternative to DirectX for some games. If games use Vulkan, the runtime is included.

Others

Some additional libraries that may be incorporated:

NVIDIA PhysX – physics simulation engine
OpenAL – Audio API

And various supporting tools, configs, and licenses.

As you can see, these core components allow Steamworks to hook into games across languages, platforms, and graphics APIs.

Now let‘s look at why redistributables are so crucial…

Why Steamworks Redistributables Are Essential

You‘re probably wondering why games can‘t just include these libraries themselves rather than using a centralized package.

There are some key benefits redistributables provide:

Save Disk Space

By preventing duplicate copies of libraries, redistributables significantly reduce install size:

Component	Typical Size
DirectX 11 Runtime	~232 MB
Visual C++ 2017 Runtime	~14 MB

That‘s ~250 MB saved for just two libraries!

Shared Dependencies

Games rely on those libraries being present. Redistributables guarantee the dependencies exist.

Consistent Versions

Forces games to use the same component versions. Prevents conflicts.

Simplified Maintenance

Updates can be deployed once to the redistributables rather than to each game individually.

Enables DRM

Steamworks DRM sometimes requires presence of the libraries.

Cross-Game Compatibility

Low-level support for all Steamworks services.

Without redistributables, achieving cross-game compatibility would be far more difficult for developers.

How Are Steamworks Redistributables Installed?

There are a few different ways the libraries get installed:

Automatically during game installation – Steam downloads and sets up required redistributables silently in the background.
Manually – Users can download just the "CommonRedist" package directly through Steam and run the installer. Helpful for testing.
In-game – When launching a game for the first time, Steam may trigger installation of missing redistributables on-demand.
By Steam client – The client may update certain components like DirectX in the background as well.

This ensures a seamless user experience. Steam handles the redistributables so you don‘t have to!

Next let‘s talk about whether you truly need them…

Are Steamworks Redistributables Required?

Technically the redistributables are "optional" – but only in the strictest sense.

Realistically, most Steam games depend on them. Without the libraries, games can suffer issues like:

Crashing or failing to launch
Downloading problems
Loss of DLC access
Multiplayer and matchmaking errors
Achievement sync failures
Inability to purchase in-game content
Stability and performance issues

So while not absolute requirements, you‘ll have a bad time without redistributables!

I don‘t recommend trying to play games without them. Leave the libraries installed for a smooth experience.

Where Are Steamworks Redistributables Installed?

The Steamworks shared components reside in common directories, organized by type:

Windows

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Steam

Mac OSX

/Library/Application Support/Steam

Linux

/home/$USER/.local/share/Steam

Subfolders like _directxredist, dotnet, physx contain the actual library files.

Knowing the location helps troubleshoot missing or corrupted files.

Is It Safe to Delete Steamworks Redistributables?

Generally, no. Manually removing the redistributables can seriously impact games.

That said, some valid reasons you may want or need to delete them include:

Fixing corrupted files
Freeing disk space from old games
Resolving compatibility issues
Working around crashes or bugs

The safest approach is to let Steam reinstall any missing redistributables automatically the next time you play a game.

Only resort to manual deletion if you‘re comfortable troubleshooting any resulting issues.

Do All Steam Games Use Steamworks?

Nope! Steamworks is optional. Developers choose whether to integrate features like:

Matchmaking
Achievements
microtransactions
Cloud saves

If a game doesn‘t leverage Steamworks, those features won‘t be present.

However, nearly all games depend on baseline redistributables like DirectX.

So even non-Steamworks games benefit greatly from the shared libraries.

Troubleshooting Steamworks & Redistributable Issues

Let‘s round out this beginner‘s guide with some troubleshooting tips:

Check for missing files – Verify expected redistributables are in Steam‘s directories. Reinstall if missing.
Repair/reinstall Steam – Choose Steam‘s repair option to download fresh copies of corrupted files.
Update graphics drivers – Outdated GPU drivers cause redistributable crashes.
Remove old versions – If an old game needs outdated DLLs, delete newer ones.
Add exceptions to antivirus – Overzealous antivirus can block Steam components.
Verify game cache – Use Steam to check for corrupted game files and re-download them.
Reinstall game – Completely uninstall and reinstall problematic games as a last resort.
Check for software conflicts – Other apps may conflict with Steamworks libraries.

Hopefully these tips will get you back up and running! Redistributables are easy to manage once you understand them.

The Magic of Steamworks Redistributables

And there you have it friend – now you‘re a redistributables expert!

In summary:

Steamworks provides cool connected features using shared libraries called redistributables.
These centralized components offer huge benefits like smaller installs and simplified compatibility.
Most Steam games rely on redistributables under the hood.
Steam handles installing and updating them automatically for you.

So next time you see those "mysterious" redistributables libraries installed on your system, no need to worry! Just let Steam do its thing and power your gaming experience.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy those awesome Steamworks features!