Launch Keys

IMPORTANT

Status: Supported
Minimum Version: 1.0

Overview

Launch keys allow you to configure engine behavior before starting the game. Parameters are grouped by functional categories and used to configure rendering, debugging, performance, and game functions

Syntax

Launch keys are specified in the command line or configuration file in the format:

-<key>

or

-<key1> -<key2> -<key3>

Parameter Categories

Core

Key	Description
auto_load_arch	Automatically load game archives at startup
nolog	Disable logging to file

Engine

Key	Description
xclsx	Disable rendering of red text in debug
no_center_screen	Do not center window on startup
dxdebug	Enable DirectX debug mode
perfhud_hack	Force activate all renderers
noprefetch	Disable data preloading
demomode	Demo recording playback
nosound	Completely disable the sound subsystem
r2	Force enable R2 renderer
r4	Force enable R4 renderer

Render

Key	Description
disasm	Enable shader disassembly
nonvs	No nvidia depthstencil (dx9 only)
noshadows	Completely disable shadow rendering
no_occq	Disable occq optimization
nodistort	Disable distortion effects (heat, smoke)

Game

Key	Description
designer	Put all alive objects offline
debug_ge	Enable game event debug mode

API

Key	Description
renderdoc	Activate RenderDoc integration for frame capture

Lua

Key	Description
keep_lua	Do not unload Lua on level change
use_callstack	Enable callstack output on LUA errors

Interface

Key	Description
no_debug_panel	Disable ImGui debug panel

Usage Examples

Example 1: Complex Graphics Debugging

-dxdebug -disasm -renderdoc

→ Activates DirectX debug, shader disassembly, and RenderDoc capture

Example 2: Script Debugging

-use_callstack -keep_lua

→ Preserves Lua state and displays call stack on errors

Recommendations

• ⚠ Limitations:
  The keys r2 and r4 are mutually exclusive - use only one of them
  noprefetch can cause stuttering when loading new zones
  nonvs only works in DirectX 9 mode
  nosound completely disables all sound effects and music
  

• ✖ Anti-patterns:
  Avoid combining nolog + use_callstack when debugging scripts
  Don't activate all rendering keys at once
  Don't use demomode in normal gameplay