Opinion piece from 3,000hrs into the game

[RISINGSOUTH92]

This launcher still sucks. Before this launcher I never had these niche problems. My friends use to be able to play multiplayer with no lag. I have to reinstall this launcher fells like a daily basis to get it to work, Some mods still don't work. I guess paradox just refuses to fix problems now. Let the brown nose moderators delete. Ftr paradox use to be my favorite developers.

 

[goodcigar]

It honest seem like there not any QA team anymore.

 

[Simon_9732495]

This launcher still sucks.

You dont need the launcher to play the game. You can just start the HOI4.exe from the game folder.

With the launcher you change your used DLCs and Mods and create the file "launcher-settings.json" (in the same folder as HOI4.exe).
If you dont want to use the launcher frequently you can just create various "launcher-settings.json"-files once and then only switch this file, before you start the .exe

Edit:
I remembered this wrong.
It's not the file "launcher-settings.json".
It's maybe the file "dlc_load.json" in the folder "Users\***Username***\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron IV\"
Maybe someone can help me... @Mousetick maybe? @bitmode also knows this for sure...

 

[Mousetick]

You dont need the launcher to play the game. You can just start the HOI4.exe from the game folder.

With the launcher you change your used DLCs and Mods
It's maybe the file "dlc_load.json" in the folder "Users\***Username***\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron IV\"

Yes, indeed. Paraphrased here: Has anyone noticed how slower the game launcher has become?

More and better tips for bypassing the Launcher, both on Windows or Linux, starting here: Is there a way to remove the advertisements from the launcher?

I've spent an unreasonable amount of time studying how the Launcher works:

Why uninstalling the Launcher appears to improve things only the first time HOI 4 is used thereafter: Hoi4 Launcher - An error has accoured
Performance analysis of the "modern" Launcher and why it's a botched piece of doodoo, starting there: New launcher version : 2020.14
Also there: Launcher version 2020.15 change log?