Side-Quest: Getting Jade Empire to Run via Steam (Win7 x64)

Go onto the Steam forums and you'll find a number of threads saying that the Steam version of Jade Empire is broken, and how dare Valve sell a broken game, they're the worst company etc. etc.

Well, Jade Empire is not broken. There is a simple fix that requires no downloads of any files or alteration of configuration files. Launching the game is not as straightforward as it should be either, but that is a minor issue.

1. First, the folder that contains your Steam library. In my case, that is F: drive > SteamLibrary.
There should be two items in the SteamLibrary folder. A folder named "SteamApps" and a file named "steam.dll".

2. Select the file "steam.dll" and copy it (either by right-clicking and selecting "Copy," or by "Ctrl + C"). Do NOT cut or otherwise move "steam.dll" or your Steam library will not display correctly. Simply copying it will be enough.

3. Navigate to the folder that Jade Empire is installed to. In my case, that is F: drive > SteamLibrary > SteamApps > common > Jade Empire.

4. Paste the "steam.dll" file into the Jade Empire folder.

That solves one part of the problem. When launching Jade Empire from within the Steam library, I am given the option to choose "Play Jade Empire Special Edition" or "Launch Jade Empire Configuration." Choosing "Play Jade Empire" initiates the Jade Empire launcher:

Choosing "Play" does not launch the game, but instead launches the Jade Empire configuration utility (which hangs and needs to be force-quitted via the Task Manager).

To get the game to launch, go back to the folder that Jade Empire was installed to (SteamLibrary > SteamApps > common > Jade Empire). Find the file "JadeEmpire.exe." Right-click the file, click the Compatibility tab, and select the check-box to "Run this program as an administrator." Click OK and close the Properties window.

Now double-click "JadeEmpire.exe" to run the game (and say Yes to the UAC confirmation request which will appear). I recommend making a shortcut from "JadeEmpire.exe" so you don't have to keep going into the game folder to run it.

Though not launching from the Steam library window, Steam still needs to be open in order to play Jade Empire. Usage statistics will still be compiled (total hours played + last date played).

And that is it. Strange that all this is necessary, but the Steam version of the game does work. Currently playing in 1080p and full save game functionality.

It is also possible to purchase this game on GOG in a DRM-free format.

Update: I have also posted some tweaks that can be made to the JadeEmpire.ini to unlock the frame-rate cap and turn on some settings that may not be available in the game's option settings.