How to play Red Dead Redemption 2 from offline

As of July 2021 this method works again. I successfully tested both LaunchRDR2.bat and desktop shortcut for PlayRDR2.exe on
- RGL 1.0.42.369
- RGSC 2.0.8.5 - after every RGL/RGSC update you should redo steps from "Required setup steps when connected"section
- RDR2 build 1436.25 (Blood Money/DLSS update)
- Epic Launcher 12.2.10-16850973
Be advised that although Rockstar is commited to supporting offline mode it may inadvertently break again in some future RGSC update. Offline mode launch with saved RGSC credentials used to work until Rockstar broke it in October 2020 RGL update, then after my ticket they fixed it in November 2020 RGL update. At least now there is "alternative offline running method" by EMPRESS V2 & Mr Goldberg.

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This method works if you legitimately bought the game from Epic Games Store and want to play through RDR2 story mode offline. The method (after  modifications for specific store) and Troubleshooting section are also applicable to RGL and Steam RDR2 versions.

TL;DR - recent Epic Game Launcher and Rockstar Game Launcher versions explicitly support offline mode and RDR2 story mode can now be started without internet connection using only saved RGL/RGSC credentials. Moreover, it can be started from custom desktop shortcut for RGL without running Epic at all as long as this shortcut has correct saved Epic credentials as parameters - they can be obtained from RGL logfile. 

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Required setup steps when connected

• Install and launch RDR2 from Epic Games Launcher (EGL), it will install prerequisite Rockstar Game Launcher (RGL) and Rockstar Games Social Club (RGSC)
• Sign-in online to EGL and RGL/RGSC, link EGL and RGL accounts.
• Do not enable cloud saves - click NOT RIGHT NOW when asked about cloud saves.
• During sign-in to RGL you must check "Remember me" and "Auto sign in"  (this will check box "Sign in automatically" in Settings / Account information).
  ATTENTION: after every RGL/RGSC update you should relogin while connected with "Remember me" and "Auto sign in" checked as later RGSC version may not detect saved credentials in older RGSC format!
• It is advisable to play a little while connected, first mission is enough, exit the game. 
• Disconnect from the internet
• This step is crucial as it prepares RGSC saved credentials for subsequent fully offline runs - right after disconnecting bring up EGL window while it is not in full offline mode and still has valid Epic Online Services authentication, launch RDR2 from EGL library once again, exit the game after Story/Online menu appears.

 

How to play RDR2 story mode offline later

• After successful online launch open RGL logfile "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\Launcher\launcher.log" in Notepad, press Ctrl-F and find -epicusername and -epicuserid parameter values in RDR2.exe line in [gamelaunch] section. These parameter values may also be obtained from EGL and RGSC logs.
• In the RDR2 game folder (the one which has RDR2.exe) create file LaunchRDR2.bat that will launch RGL, replace {YOUR_EPIC_USERNAME_HERE} and {YOUR_EPIC_USERID_HERE} with parameter values taken from RGL logfile above. Make sure that epicusername has no " " and last line with Launcher.exe is on one line:
  

@echo off
rem LaunchRDR2.bat starts EGL RDR2 in offline mode
set epicusername={YOUR_EPIC_USERNAME_HERE}
set   epicuserid={YOUR_EPIC_USERID_HERE}
 

"%ProgramFiles%\Rockstar Games\Launcher\Launcher.exe" -skipPatcherCheck -epicAppId=rdr2 -AUTH_LOGIN=unused -AUTH_PASSWORD= -AUTH_TYPE=exchangecode -epicapp=Heather -epicenv=Prod -EpicPortal -epicusername="%epicusername%" -epicuserid=%epicuserid% -epiclocale=en @args.txt -rglLanguage=en-US -useEpic

• Open %windir%\System32 and copy cmd.exe to RDR2 game folder.
  ATTENTION: it is mandatory that cmd.exe that runs LaunchRDR2.bat batch file reside in game folder as RGL determines game folder from location of parent process' exe (in this case parent process is cmd.exe).
• Create desktop shortcut (right-click desktop, choose New / Shortcut) for
     {your RDR2 game folder}\cmd.exe /c LaunchRDR2.bat
• Use this shortcut for subsequent offline launches without admin privileges and without UAC prompt.
  

That's all! Feel free to share your experiences in comments below.

 

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Troubleshooting

This is technical section and can be skipped if you successfully run the game offline although it is highly recommended for better understanding of RDR2 launch.

Here is the process tree of successful offline launch from Procmon:

 

If the game does not start you must identify the step on which it fails and check corresponding log file.

Game startup sequence:

1. EGL with saved EGS credentials runs PlayRDR2.exe (Rockstar Games Launcher Redirector)  [may skip Step 1 - PlayRDR2.exe with correct command line parameters may be run directly without opening EGL]
2. PlayRDR2.exe 
• ensures RGL/RGSC integrity through Redistributables\Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe (which is forced to run with admin privileges and will always have Windows UAC prompt unless PlayRDR2.exe is run from elevated scheduler task)
• finds RGL path from registry and starts RGL.  PlayRDR2.exe passes all its command line parameters to RGL - they will be in RGL log [may also  skip Step 2 - RGL with correct command line parameters may be run directly without PlayRDR2.exe]
3. RGL
• starts its system service (which is set to Manual start mode)
• starts RGSC (first short-lived SocialClubHelper.exe instance which logs its progress to socialclub_launcher.log) which loads saved credentials and checks Epic entitlement
• starts RDR2.exe with all parameters passed from PlayRDR2.exe + it adds -scOfflineOnly parameter
4. RDR2.exe launches RGSC interface that will be shown at the top when Home key is pressed which once again loads saved credentials and checks Epic entitlement (second SocialClubHelper.exe instance which logs its progress to socialclub.log).
   

Notice that for successful game run RGSC is started 2 times and these 2 starts do not overlap.

It is possible to skip steps 1 and 2 and start RGL with needed parameters on Step 3 directly through cmd.exe + LaunchRDR2.bat in game folder thus bypassing Redistributables\Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe integrity checks and its UAC prompt.

 

Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe and why it has UAC prompt

It is a simple fool proof tool to ensure that RGL/RGSC and prerequisites are installed. What it does:
   Queries registry to find where RGSC and RGL are
       HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Rockstar Games\Rockstar Games Social Club\InstallFolder
       HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Rockstar Games\Launcher\InstallFolder
   Queries registry to find if prerequisites were installed
       HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2\DirectX
       HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2\Vulkan
       HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2\VisualC
   Checks that critical RGSC and RGL components are installed
       C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Social Club\socialclub.dll
       C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Launcher\Launcher.exe
       C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Launcher\Launcher.rpf

If any of critical RGL/RGSC components is not found e.g. first game launch or data corruption Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe runs corresponding installer that installs/repairs RGL/RGSC and that is why it requires admin privileges in built-in manifest 

<requestedExecutionLevel level="requireAdministrator"...

If RGL/RGSC files and services are installed correctly Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe as of now can be safely replaced by any other exe that does not require admin privileges and immediately exits upon start e.g. C:\Windows\System32\clip.exe. Though successfully tested by me this is not recommended and will still not get rid of UAC prompt as PlayRDR2.exe uses "runas" to enforce launch of Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe with admin privileges all the same.

The method above assumes that after prerequisite online steps RGL/RGSC is already installed, bypasses Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe and launches RGL with correct Epic parameters directly.

EGL logfile in "%LOCALAPPDATA%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\Logs"

file EpicGamesLauncher.log

 

Successful offline EGL sign-in will have

FCommunityPortalManagerImpl: Change State CPManagerState_UserLogin->CPManagerState_SelfUpdateCheck
FCommunityPortalManagerImpl: Change State CPManagerState_SelfUpdateCheck->CPManagerState_LoginOffline
FAccountService::SignInOffline

 

online EGL sign-in using Google authentication or Epic Games account (email and password)

FCommunityPortalManagerImpl: Change State CPManagerState_UserLogin->CPManagerState_SelfUpdateCheck
FCommunityPortalManagerImpl: Change State CPManagerState_SelfUpdateCheck->CPManagerState_WaitEms
FAccountService::SignIn (exchange code)
LogOnlineIdentity: OSS: Sending Login request. url=https://account-public-service-prod03.ol.epicgames.com/account, type=exchangecode, id=[REDACTED]
FCommunityPortalManagerImpl: Change State CPManagerState_WaitEms->CPManagerState_LoggingIn
LogOnlineIdentity: OSS: FOnlineIdentityMcp::HandleXmppConnectionCreated
FAccountService::OnLoginComplete - 0 TRUE {-----epic user id here--------}

 

EGL launches PlayRDR2.exe (Rockstar Games Launcher Redirector)

Online launch (offline launch has -AUTH_PASSWORD=  empty)
FCommunityPortalLaunchAppTask: Launching app 'D:/Games/EpicGames/RedDeadRedemption2/PlayRDR2.exe' with commandline ' -AUTH_LOGIN=unused -AUTH_PASSWORD={pass} -AUTH_TYPE=exchangecode -epicapp=Heather -epicenv=Prod -EpicPortal  -epicusername="{user}" -epicuserid={-----epic user id here--------} -epiclocale=en'

 

RGL logfiles in "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\Launcher"

file launcher.log, previous logs are also stored there. It is the main log for diagnostics.

• If RGL checked Epic entitlement it will run rdr2.exe with -scOfflineOnly parameter among others, see [gamelaunch] section in RGL log.
• If RGL could not check Epic entitlement the game will never start e.g. there will be no [gamelaunch] section in RGL log.
  

So any successful launch must have in launcher.log

• [gamelaunch] section
• "[minmode] Running in Epic mode." line.

Successful online launch in launcher.log

• "Epic ownership request indicated valid entitlement"
• "[cloudsaveop]"  section
• "RGL is up to date (current: {version}, minimum: {version})". Successful Offline launch will not have "RGL is up to date..." line as it can't connect to check latest available RGL version.

No use in trying to run RDR2.exe directly, it is tightly integrated with RGL for DRM and will log error
   "[ ERROR ] [Admin] [external] Failed to begin Epic ownership request"

 

Sample successful launch of RDR2.exe in [gamelaunch] section of RGL log

(* indicates parameters that are present only in offline mode run, numbers indicate order of parameters in online launch)
    -skipPatcherCheck       6
    -epicAppId=rdr2         *
    -AUTH_LOGIN=unused      *
    -AUTH_PASSWORD=         *
    -AUTH_TYPE=exchangecode *
    -epicapp=Heather        *
    -epicenv=Prod           *
    -EpicPortal             7
    -epicusername={user}    3
    -epicuserid={epicid}    4
    -epiclocale=en          8
    @args.txt               9
    @commandline.txt        1
    -useEpic                2
    -scOfflineOnly          *
    -rglLanguage=en-US      5

RGSC logfiles in "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\Social Club"

 logs have UTF-16 LE encoding

• socialclub_launcher.log for launch of RGSC itself
• socialclub.log for launch of RDR2.exe game

Successful offline launch in socialclub.log when all checkboxes during RGL sign-in set correctly

   Epic build - Attempting to load auto sign in profile.
   Epic build - had a valid auto sign in profile.
   Auto sign in profile detected.
   Signing in to profile '{user}' (Online: 0, Auto Sign In: 1, Save Email: 1)
   Saved profile for {user}
   Signed in offline to profile: {user}

 

Important locations

RDR2 settings and profile with savegames are in
  "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2"

RDR2 achievements are stored in RGSC profile subdir, when RGSC goes online it syncs it with Rockstar server
  "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\Social Club\Profiles\{ID}"
   9-character profile id for RGL and RGSC is the same

RGL settings
  "%LOCALAPPDATA%\Rockstar Games\Launcher",  file settings_user.dat updated on each start

Appendix

This section contains obsolete methods left here for reference only.

Offline launch through desktop shortcut for PlayRDR2.exe

 

No need to enter email address every time to start EGL in offline mode, in fact at this point after online setup steps above game can work offline without running EGL and you may uncheck "Run When My Computer Starts" in EGL settings.

 

Find PlayRDR2.exe command line in EGL log:

• Open EGL logfile "%LOCALAPPDATA%\EpicGamesLauncher\Saved\Logs\EpicGamesLauncher.log" in Notepad, press Ctrl-F and find text "PlayRDR2.exe" (without " ")
• The line with PlayRDR2.exe must look something like this (your path may differ):

FCommunityPortalLaunchAppTask: Launching app 'D:/Games/EpicGames/RedDeadRedemption2/PlayRDR2.exe' with commandline ' -AUTH_LOGIN=unused -AUTH_PASSWORD={pass} -AUTH_TYPE=exchangecode -epicapp=Heather -epicenv=Prod -EpicPortal  -epicusername="{user}" -epicuserid={-----epic user id here--------} -epiclocale=en'

 

Construct full command line for PlayRDR2.exe with Epic parameters

• Remove all extra text ("FCommunityPortalLaunchAppTask: Launching app", "with commandline")
• Remove  all  '   at the start and end of parameters
• ATTENTION: remove password from -AUTH_PASSWORD, make sure that it looks -AUTH_PASSWORD= or else there will be error "Red Dead Redemption 2 was unable to authenticate with Epic Online Services". Check once again - it is not a mistake, this password must be empty for offline mode to work. 
• Add -skipInstallers to avoid UAC prompt
• Now command line must look like this:
  {your path to RDR2}/PlayRDR2.exe -AUTH_LOGIN=unused -AUTH_PASSWORD= -AUTH_TYPE=exchangecode -epicapp=Heather -epicenv=Prod -EpicPortal -skipInstallers -epicusername="{user}" -epicuserid={-----epic user id here--------} -epiclocale=en
  

Create shortcut for PlayRDR2.exe command line on the desktop

• Copy this command line to clipboard (select it and press Ctrl-C)
• Right-click desktop, choose New / Shortcut, press Ctrl-V
• If you have -skipInstallers in this command line you won't have to click Yes in User Account Control prompt for Redistributables\Rockstar-Games-Epic.exe which is otherwise run by PlayRDR2.exe every time.

How to avoid the User Account Control prompt during RDR2 launch (obsolete)

This section is superseded by -skipInstallers PlayRDR2.exe parameter.

Create scheduler task LaunchRDR2 which will run PlayRDR2.exe command line with admin privileges and shortcut that launches LaunchRDR2 task:

• Run Task Scheduler and click "Create Task..."
• Name: LaunchRDR2
• Check "Run with highest privileges"
• On Actions tab click "New...", fill in the following:
• Program/script: PlayRDR2.exe
• Add arguments: -AUTH_LOGIN=unused -AUTH_PASSWORD= -AUTH_TYPE=exchangecode -epicapp=Heather -epicenv=Prod -EpicPortal  -epicusername="{user}" -epicuserid={-----epic user id here--------} -epiclocale=en
• Start in: {your path to rdr2 e.g. D:/Games/EpicGames/RedDeadRedemption2} 
• You may test the task - right-click LaunchRDR2 in Task Scheduler Library and select Run, there should be no UAC prompt and RDR2 should be started successfully
  
• Create desktop shortcut for
  schtasks /run /tn "LaunchRDR2"
• Use this shortcut for subsequent offline launches of the game without any UAC prompts.
  

 

Offline launch from EGL (not recommended)

The following section "Offline launch from EGL" left for reference only and can be skipped - it is not recommended as it requires to enter email address every time to basically just launch PlayRDR2.exe with correct parameters.

 

During previous online sign-in to EGL you should have used Epic Games account option (email and password) and checked "Remember me". 

Note: also may have used online service authentication e.g. Google and setting EGL password in EGL account settings and then signout and sign-in again with Epic Games account option and "Remember me" checked using online service email and EGL password.

1. Sign-in to EGL offline. Use Epic Games registered email and "CONTINUE IN OFFLINE MODE" button, EGL password already saved during previous online sign-in. There will be ribbon on top of EGL window - "Epic Games is in Offline Mode....".
   • EGL may show "Launch Failed" "You must be signed in to launch Red Dead Redemption 2" - it is OK, click "DISMISS".
   • It is also possible to sign-in to EGL using any online authentication e.g. Google and then drop the connection.
     
2. In EGL Library click Launch under the "Red Dead Redemption 2" thumbnail.
   
   • May also use desktop shortcut  com.epicgames.launcher://apps/Heather?action=launch&silent=true, it starts EGL if it was not running.
   • Cannot run game exe RDR2.exe directly, it is tightly integrated with RGL for DRM.
   • Start from RGL shortcut on desktop (also "PLAY ON EPIC" button in RGL's My Library) can be done only when internet connected. 
3. RGL/RGSC will show window title "Offline mode: Could not establish connection" and successfully launch RDR2.