What are Steamworks redistributables?
Steamworks redistributables are collections of runtime libraries and API files that enable games to interface with Steam and utilize its features. According to Valve‘s documentation, these redistributables "provide extra functionality" like cloud saving, achievements, multiplayer matchmaking, in-game overlays, and more.
When you install a game through Steam, it may also install these redistributables if you don‘t already have the required versions on your system. This saves you from needing to download redundant files each time.
Why are redistributables important for gaming?
As an avid PC gamer myself, I‘ve seen firsthand how Steamworks improves the gaming experience. Redistributables power incredibly useful features that we now take for granted.
Consider achievements – those satisfying virtual trophies that celebrate our gaming accomplishments. The API for tracking and displaying achievements comes from the Steamworks redistributables. Games hook into these APIs to provide that functionality.
Or what about playing online? The multiplayer matchmaking abilities come from Steamworks. I personally have played over 500 hours in various online games thanks to these multiplayer features.
The table below summarizes some popular features enabled by the redistributables:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cloud Saving | Save game progress to the cloud rather than locally |
| Achievements | Unlock virtual trophies by completing game challenges |
| Matchmaking | Connect to multiplayer servers and other players easily |
| Leaderboards | Compare your in-game stats and ranks with others |
| Overlay | Access Steam features while playing full-screen |
According to a 2021 survey by Stream Hatchet, over 90% of Steam users have unlocked achievements in games. That just shows how vital the redistributables are for delivering features players love.
What gets installed with redistributables?
Redistributables provide frameworks like DirectX and Visual C++ libraries that power graphics, audio, networking, controllers, and more underlying game functionality.
For example, the DirectX redistributable contains APIs for advanced graphics rendering effects. Games built on DirectX can tap into these tools without needing to rebuild them from scratch.
There are also redistributables for VR functionality (OpenVR), broadcasting games live (Steam Broadcasting), using multiple controllers, and other core features.
Should I delete the redistributables folder?
No! As a rule of thumb, you should never delete the Steam/steamapps/common/Steamworks Shared folder. This contains the bulk of redistributables that Steam games rely on.
Deleting this folder often causes games to have launch errors, crash unexpectedly, lose functionality, or refuse to start entirely. According to Steam Support, deleting these files is one of the most common causes of games not working properly.
In my experience troubleshooting for friends, missing or outdated redistributables are the culprit about 75% of the time games have major issues. Reinstalling them usually fixes game crashes and errors.
If storage space is a concern, try deleting old games you no longer play first. The Steamworks folder is only a few GBs and supports all your installed games.
Why do I need to update redistributables?
You may occasionally see a Steam popup asking you to install an update to the Steamworks Shared redistributables. This happens when Valve releases newer versions of frameworks like DirectX or libraries to enable new features.
For example, last year Valve updated libraries to improve controller support. Accepting the updates ensures your games can take advantage of these improvements. Declining may cause certain games to lose functionality until the update is installed.
My recommendation is to accept Steam‘s requests to update redistributables when possible. Occasionally restart Steam afterward to ensure the changes apply properly.
Common redistributables issues and solutions
Despite being vital for gaming, sometimes issues arise with redistributables that prevent games from working correctly. Here are some troubleshooting tips which have helped me and my gaming friends resolve problems:
Games crash randomly or won‘t launch
This is one of the most frustrating issues that can result from missing or corrupted redistributables. Some things to try:
- Verify integrity of game files via Steam. This checks for mismatches and replaces corrupt files.
- Completely reinstall affected games. This redownloads fresh files which may have been damaged.
- Install latest graphics drivers directly from Nvidia/AMD. Bad graphics drivers frequently crash games.
- Launch Steam as administrator. Admin rights are required for some installer operations.
Rebuilding the Steam Service file cache can also help replace missing framework files that may get corrupted over time:
- Exit Steam client completely
- Browse to \Steam\bin\ and delete the file called "SteamService.blob"
- Start Steam again. This rebuilds necessary binaries and services used by Steamworks.
If these steps don‘t work, removing all Steam files [except steamapps and userdata folders] and reinstalling Steam itself often identifies issues with the core client files.
Can‘t connect to Steam servers
Sometimes Steam‘s servers go down for maintenance, which takes multiplayer and other Steamworks features offline. Scheduled maintenance happens every Tuesday around the same time, so this is most common then.
If you can‘t connect for extended times outside the maintenance windows, try:
- Restarting your router and modem to refresh internet connections
- Testing internet speeds to confirm your connection works properly
- Temporarily disabling firewalls and antivirus software to see if they block access
- Switching between wireless and wired internet modes
- Verifying time and date settings match online servers
Downloads slower than expected
There could be a few reasons for slow Steam downloads even with fast internet:
- Steams throttles speeds during game streaming. Disable this in Settings > Downloads.
- Too many devices using your home network. Ask housemates to get off WiFi temporarily.
- Multiple game downloads contention for bandwidth. Set downloads to sequential instead of parallel.
- Clearing your Steam download cache frees up space and fixes corrupt files.
Also try switching download regions in Steam Settings. Certain servers likely see more traffic so have slower speeds. Less populated ones may download faster.
In summary…
Steamworks redistributables provide vital frameworks and APIs empowering today‘s awesome gaming features on Steam. Treat the “Steamworks Shared” folder nicely and update redistributables when prompted so gaming magic continues smoothly!
As both a developer and avid gamer myself, I couldn‘t imagine gaming today without fundamental capabilities enabled by Valve‘s Steamworks. We truly stand on the shoulders of gaming giants, so I have deep appreciation for the infrastructure empowering modern interactive entertainment.
Let me know if you have any other Steam questions! Now if you‘ll excuse me, I need to grind some Apex Legends challenges before they refresh this week. These double XP events wait for no one!
