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# Understanding and Using Additional Launch Parameters in ggLeap (Steam Example)

**What are Additional Launch Parameters?**  
Launch parameters are command-line options that modify a game’s settings before it runs. These options can override in-game settings, helping to recover from incompatible video configurations or troubleshoot various issues.

For example, to force a game to start in windowed mode regardless of in-game settings (such as with *Counter-Strike*), add `-windowed` to the **Additional Launch Parameters** field in ggLeap.

---

**Setting Game Launch Options in Steam**

Launch options can be configured through:

* Steam’s **Library** (right-click the game > Properties > Launch Options)
* Creating a custom game shortcut with specified options
* ggLeap’s **Additional Launch Parameters** field for games on client PCs

> ⚠️ **Note:** The launch options listed below apply **only** to Valve's GoldSrc and Source engine games. Most third-party titles do **not** support these.

![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15860147/image-20250327-151516.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743088518831&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)
![](https://ggcircuit.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/15860147/image-20250327-151537.png?version=1&modificationDate=1743088539838&cacheVersion=1&api=v2)
|| Refer to Valve's game list to confirm compatibility.

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### 🔧 Common Launch Options

| **Launch Option** | **Description** |
| ---- |
| `-autoconfig` | Resets video/performance settings to default based on current hardware. Ignores config files until removed. |
| `-dev` | Enables developer mode and disables certain UI elements like the quit dialog. |
| `-condebug` | Logs console output to `console.log`. |
| `-console` | Opens the game with the developer console enabled. |
| `-toconsole` | Starts the game directly in console mode. |
| `-dxlevel <level>` | Forces a specific DirectX version (e.g., `-dxlevel 90`). Useful for compatibility/performance. Supported levels: 80, 81, 90, 95, 98. |
| `-fullscreen` | Starts the game in fullscreen mode. |
| `-windowed` or `-sw` | Starts the game in windowed mode. |
| `-16bpp` / `-32bpp` | Sets color depth. (GoldSrc only) |
| `-w <width>` | Sets the screen width (e.g., `-w 1280`). |
| `-h <height>` | Sets the screen height. If omitted, height is determined automatically. |
| `-refresh <rate>` | Sets a specific screen refresh rate. |
| `-heapsize <kilobytes>` | Specifies memory allocation for the game. |
| `-nocrashdialog` | Suppresses certain crash dialog messages. |
| `-novid` / `-novideo` | Skips the Valve intro video. |
| `-lv` | Enables low-violence mode (*Left 4 Dead* only). |
| `-sillygibs` | Enables low-violence mode (*Team Fortress 2* only). |

---

### 🎮 Launch Options for Graphics & Performance Tuning

| **Command** | **Description** |
| ---- |
| `+r_rootlod #` | Model detail (0 = High, 1 = Medium, 2 = Low) |
| `+mat_picmip #` | Texture detail (0 = High, 1 = Medium, 2 = Low) |
| `+mat_reducefillrate #` | Shader detail (0 = High, 1 = Low) |
| `+r_waterforceexpensive #` | Water quality (0 = Low, 1 = High) |
| `+r_waterforcereflectentities #` | Water reflectiveness (0 = Low, 1 = High) |
| `+r_shadowrendertotexture #` | Shadow quality (0 = Low, 1 = High) |
| `+mat_colorcorrection #` | Color correction (0 = Low, 1 = High) |

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### 🔍 Filtering Modes

| **Command** | **Description** |
| ---- |
| `+mat_trilinear 0` | Use bilinear filtering (least intensive) |
| `+mat_trilinear 1` | Use trilinear filtering |
| `+mat_forceaniso #` | Anisotropic filtering (`#` = 2, 4, 8, or 16) |
| `+mat_hdr_level #` | HDR lighting (0 = Off, 2 = Full) |

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### 🧰 Useful Steam Client Launch Options

| **Option** | **Function** |
| ---- |
| `-login <user> <password>` | Bypasses the login window with credentials. |
| `-tcp` | Forces Steam to use the TCP protocol instead of UDP. |
| `-clearbeta` | Opts out of any Steam beta participation. |
| `-silent` | Starts Steam minimized to the system tray. |

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|| ⚠️ Warning:
|| Steam no longer supports DirectX 7 ( -dxlevel 70 ). Using it can cause crashes. Be sure to remove it from your launch options if present.