launch GW without Steam? - Guild Wars Forums

kevin32 · Apr 11, 2012, 02:21 PM // 14:21

I currently play GW through Steam, which means I have to log into Steam first before it launches GW. I noticed that I can close Steam (by killing its process), and still play GW, and keep any changes I made in the game (because it's all stored on ArenaNet's servers, not Steam's).

So is there a way to launch GW without going through Steam?

Silmar Alech · Apr 11, 2012, 02:30 PM // 14:30

Certainly. Just locate gw.exe with the Explorer or through other means and start it directly or create a shortcut to gw.exe on the desktop.

Quaker · Apr 11, 2012, 06:19 PM // 18:19

Locate gw,exe using Windows Explorer. I don't know if Steam puts it anywhere special, but it's normally in C:\Program Files\Guild Wars. If it's not there, search for it.
When you locate it, right-click on gw.exe and select Send To > Desktop (Create shortcut)
That will put an shortcut for GW on your desktop. As a bonus, this shortcut will also have a regular "Target" line where you can add things like -image when/if needed.

Apr 11, 2012, 02:21 PM // 14:21	#1
kevin32 Academy Page Join Date: Jun 2011	launch GW without Steam? I currently play GW through Steam, which means I have to log into Steam first before it launches GW. I noticed that I can close Steam (by killing its process), and still play GW, and keep any changes I made in the game (because it's all stored on ArenaNet's servers, not Steam's). So is there a way to launch GW without going through Steam?

Apr 11, 2012, 02:30 PM // 14:30	#2
Silmar Alech Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Europe Guild: Tom Son [TS] Profession: E/	Certainly. Just locate gw.exe with the Explorer or through other means and start it directly or create a shortcut to gw.exe on the desktop.

Apr 11, 2012, 06:19 PM // 18:19	#3
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	Locate gw,exe using Windows Explorer. I don't know if Steam puts it anywhere special, but it's normally in C:\Program Files\Guild Wars. If it's not there, search for it. When you locate it, right-click on gw.exe and select Send To > Desktop (Create shortcut) That will put an shortcut for GW on your desktop. As a bonus, this shortcut will also have a regular "Target" line where you can add things like -image when/if needed.