uc-online2

Custom modified Steam API .dll for Steam games to spoof your game as Spacewar. Drop-in replacement for steam_api.dll / steam_api64.dll.

Usage

If using downloaded .dlls from Releases:

• 1. Extract the archive downloaded from LATEST release (should be v1.0.1 as of currently writing this).
• 2. Copy the corresponding .dll to replace your original .dll.
  • 2a. Rename the original .dll before copying it to something else if you feel you must back it up, something like steam_api_o.dll as Goldberg Emu suggests or steam_api64.dll.old. (It doesn't matter as long as it is just changed.)
• 3. Make sure Steam is running first. Then try running the game as you normally would from the .exe. If it has SteamStub, use Steamless to remove it or use the .dll made to bypass it for games that Steamless cannot unpack. (Dave the Diver is an example.)
  • 3a. If it throws an error related to auth failure, restart Steam and try again. If the error persists, contact me. I'll work with you to figure it out one way or another.

If using self built .dlls:

• 1. Run build.bat or open uc_online2.vcxproj in Visual Studio.
• 2. Copy the output .dll to your game folder:
  • 32-bit: build\x86\steam_api.dll
  • 64-bit: build\x64\steam_api64.dll
• 3. Replace your steam_api(64).dll with one from here. Back it up if necessary by renaming it to steam_api(64)_o.dll.

Configuration

Create union-crax.ini next to the game executable to change your AppId as needed. If this file is missing, AppId defaults to 480 and plugins are not loaded. PluginsFolder is relative to the game executable or wherever it's set in the .ini. Or should be. I haven't tested it yet. Check the steam_appid.txt file that gets created upon running the game to check if your set AppId was accepted. For games that have 480 patched in the game's code, try setting it to something else free that's multiplayer, like 440 (Team Fortress 2). Shapes of Dreams did not work using 480, but worked fine with 440. ((THANK YOU to deityofsukana for helping figure that out for certain!!!))

[Settings]
AppId=480
ogAppId=220 # Half-life 2
PluginsFolder=plugins
GetStubbedLol=false

Plugin Loader / Injector

If PluginsFolder is set in the .ini file, all .dll files in that folder are loaded at startup in alphabetical order. Use prefixes to control load order:

plugins/
  01_first_plugin.dll
  02_second_plugin.dll
  03_another_one_(dj_khaled!!).dll

SteamStubbed

If GetStubbedLol is enabled in the .ini file, it will attempt to patch SteamStub on the fly. This is meant for games that Steamless cannot unpack, such as Dave the Diver. However, it can be used to keep from modifying the game files at all, or as little as possible. I'm not responsible for the code, it was used from DenuvoSanctuary's original Rust code, which can be found here. I rewrote it in C++ so I could try integrating it into this project and not need to inject it. I did not ask for permission to use it in any way, so if there are any issues with that, please contact me and I'll remove it or work something out. It's not much of a change anyways, and they're easy to find too.

If the function is disabled, or was never written in the first place, then it simply will just ignore the function entirely and continue as it wassn't implemented in the first place.

"ogAppId"

This is an attempt to allow the overlay to force use the right game assets even when you very clearly are supposedly running Spacewar. Setting the original AppId here just gets calculated to the 64-bit Game ID string it expects (which I just learned about too...) and is used for the SteamOverlayGameId environment variable which could easily be run as a launch arg, but requires you knowing the long string of numbers for your game, so this just makes it way easier to set up. SteamGameId is not touched at all by this, as it can cause problems. It uses the AppId for that, except it also gets converted to the expected 64-bit Game ID string.

Building

Quick way (true Chad way - quick, simple, and easy):

• 1. Run build.bat.
• 2. ???
• 3. Profit.

With Visual Studio (the bum way - requires too much effort):

• 1. Open uc_online2.vcxproj.
• 2. Select Release | Win32 or Release | x64.
• 3. Build.

Requires Visual Studio 2022 with C / C++ Environment selected (v143 or higher toolset). If MSBuild is not found, build.bat will tell you where to get it. The build.bat script has a preset path that applies to my personal setup and if it doesn't match yours, you will need to modify it. Otherwise, you'll consistently error out even when you have everything installed.

Forking / Modifications

Okay, so this part I did not cover as of publishing the source files, this will cover personal modifications and forks as well as modifications to this.

• Please feel free to fork this and modify it however you see fit, and if you feel it would benefit the original repo, make a PR and I'll look into it.
• You are allowed to modify this and distribute it to your liking, all I ask is that I'm made aware of this. Read the license for more info.
  • I only want this so I can be certain that it's not being distributed as a method to spread malware. (I should make the license have something for this, or make it better...)
• Have any ideas but you're not sure how to implement it? Or don't know how to code? Contact me with your ideas. I'll work on it for you and communicate with you throughout the process.

Issues?

• No, this will not work with Denuvo protected games. If you think it can, modify it so that it can work like an activated game, but even then I cannot guarantee it will work. It will likely reject you and you will need to get re-activated as your token will be fucked permanently. So basically, I say just don't even bother. It'll likely waste your time and the activators' time too.
• As it is right now, DLC you don't own will likely not work - I'll try and add functionality for that in and if it works, then it'll likely work the same as Goldberg does.
• If you're trying this with a game that has the AppId hard coded in (like with Godot games) then you'll need to modify the game to set the AppId to what you need it to be. Though, you won't even need this at all if you do that lol.
• You cannot join VAC protected servers or servers hosted using the real AppId in Garry's Mod or other Source games or any other games that have similar protections. (GoldSrc games seemingly do not apply, as CS1.6 let me join any servers.) Please do not message me asking why you can't join any servers in Garry's Mod. Instead, ask me how you can play with your friends if they have legitimate copies. :)
• For any other unexpected or unaccounted for issues, please contact me. I have yet to test this with every game so I will rely on the community to do so.