The Launcher
How the updater keeps your client current.
The launcher is how you start BoutZero. It keeps your installation matched to the server so a patch never means a reinstall.
What it does
- Asks the server for the current file manifest.
- Compares every local file against it by hash.
- Downloads only what differs. Files the server no longer lists are left in place.
- Lights up PLAY, which starts the game and closes the launcher.
It also updates itself — a new launcher arrives with the rest of the update, and the launcher restarts into it before offering PLAY.
A missing file counts as one that differs, so the same steps also repair a damaged or incomplete client (the whole client is about 3 GB).
If it cannot connect
You can still press PLAY and play on the files you already have. The status line says which case it hit:
| Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Could not reach the update server | Network, DNS or firewall — check your connection |
| No client files published on the server yet | The server answered but has nothing to offer — a staff problem, not yours |
| Update server returned code | Any other server error, with its status code |
| Could not read the update manifest | The server's file list came back unreadable — try again later |
If a file will not write
Usually one of: the game is still running, the file is read-only, or antivirus has locked it. The launcher clears read-only attributes and retries, and if it still cannot write it names the exact file rather than failing silently.
Close the game, then run the launcher again. Installing outside C:\Program Files avoids permission trouble entirely.
Game settings
Under the news panel the launcher sets the display — Windowed or Fullscreen — the window size, and texture quality (High or Low). Changes apply the next time the game starts, and the launcher is the only place to change the window size.
If a map fails to load, switch textures to Low.