Idea: choose the install drive for the launcher and everything it downloads, not just the game folder #720

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opened 2026-11-15 06:16:14 +00:00 by HumanBean · 0 comments

HumanBean commented

2026-11-15 06:16:14 +00:00

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The idea

A player's request:

I can't really select where I want it to install, and I don't want it to install on my main drive. I would appreciate it if there was a selection like Hookshot used to have.

They want to choose the drive everything goes on, up front, so nothing big lands on the system drive.

Here is what the Longshot Launcher does today (Windows):

The game folder can be changed, but only from the build settings step (Game folder → Change…). It's easy to miss, and nothing at install time asks.
The launcher itself has no choice. It always installs to %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\LongshotLauncher.
Its home folder is always %LOCALAPPDATA%\LongshotLauncher, and that's on the system drive. The builder tools (toolchains), the DLSS/FSR SDKs, and the default work folder (the build files kept for faster rebuilds) all go there. The only way to move it is the LONGSHOT_LAUNCHER_HOME variable or a portable launcher, and neither shows in the UI.

What would solve it:

Ask where to install on first run (or in the installer), with the drive's free space shown, the way Hookshot's installer did. Use that choice as the default for the launcher's home, the work folder and new game folders.
Have one setting that moves all of these to another drive later, including the toolchains and SDKs, not just the game.
Make the Game folder choice easier to find. Before the build starts, say which drive gets how much space.

Anything else

Hookshot's installer asked for the install location. Related issues: #351 (no space left on the device during the build) and #224 (the install folder's name changes between versions).

### The idea A player's request: > I can't really select where I want it to install, and I don't want it to install on my main drive. I would appreciate it if there was a selection like Hookshot used to have. They want to choose the drive everything goes on, up front, so nothing big lands on the system drive. Here is what the Longshot Launcher does today (Windows): - **The game folder can be changed**, but only from the build settings step (*Game folder* → *Change…*). It's easy to miss, and nothing at install time asks. - **The launcher itself has no choice.** It always installs to `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\LongshotLauncher`. - **Its home folder is always `%LOCALAPPDATA%\LongshotLauncher`**, and that's on the system drive. The builder tools (`toolchains`), the DLSS/FSR SDKs, and the default `work` folder (the build files kept for faster rebuilds) all go there. The only way to move it is the `LONGSHOT_LAUNCHER_HOME` variable or a portable launcher, and neither shows in the UI. What would solve it: 1. Ask where to install on first run (or in the installer), with the drive's free space shown, the way Hookshot's installer did. Use that choice as the default for the launcher's home, the work folder and new game folders. 2. Have one setting that moves all of these to another drive later, including the toolchains and SDKs, not just the game. 3. Make the *Game folder* choice easier to find. Before the build starts, say which drive gets how much space. ### Anything else Hookshot's installer asked for the install location. Related issues: #351 (no space left on the device during the build) and #224 (the install folder's name changes between versions).