Applying Patches
Some games on GameBounty have a Patches section on their download page. A patch updates an older version of the game to a newer one without re-downloading the whole thing. GameBounty patches now come as a single installer you double-click. It finds the files that changed, updates only those, and verifies everything as it goes.
You don't merge any files by hand anymore. Download the installer, run it, point it at your game folder, and it does the rest.
What you download
A patch is a branded installer named like <Game> Setup.exe. Large updates also include a second file named <Game> Setup.dat next to it (Windows can't launch installers over 4 GB, so the patch data lives in the .dat).
If the Patches section lists both a Setup.exe and a Setup.dat, download both and keep them in the same folder. The installer looks for its .dat right next to itself.
Each patch is built against a specific previous version, so if a game has several patches, apply them in order, oldest first. The installer checks the version for you and refuses to apply a patch to the wrong base, so it can never corrupt your install.
How to Apply a Patch
In the Patches section, download the patch's <Game> Setup.exe from any mirror, plus its <Game> Setup.dat if one is listed. Put both in the same folder and don't rename them.
Make sure your game's folder is excluded from antivirus, the same exclusion you added when you first installed the game.
The installer isn't code-signed (a certificate that tells Windows a file comes from a verified publisher), so antivirus tools fall back to heuristics and may flag it with the same generic detections you saw on first install. See the Safety guide for what's normal.
Double-click <Game> Setup.exe. A small GameBounty window opens showing the game and the version it updates to.
"This app can't run on your PC" or it closes instantly means the Setup.exe and its Setup.dat aren't in the same folder, or the .dat didn't finish downloading. Put them together and try again.
The installer asks where the game is installed. Point it at the folder your game's .exe is in. It checks the existing files match the version this patch expects before changing anything.
Press Install Update and wait. Every file is verified with SHA-256 before and after patching and written safely, so an interrupted update never leaves a broken file. Just run the installer again and it picks up where it left off, skipping anything already updated.
When it finishes, launch the game to confirm you're on the new version. Repeat from step 1 for the next patch in the chain, if there is one.
FAQ
Can I skip patches and apply only the latest?
No. Each patch is built on top of a specific previous version. Apply every patch in order, oldest to newest. The installer detects a version mismatch and stops without changing anything, so a skipped patch simply won't apply rather than breaking your game.
What is the Setup.dat file?
It's the patch data for large updates. Windows can't launch executables over 4 GB, so the installer keeps the data in a .dat file beside it. Always download it together with the Setup.exe and keep both in the same folder. The installer won't run without it.
The installer says my version doesn't match.
You're not on the exact build this patch expects. Nothing was changed. Apply any earlier patches first (oldest to newest), or reinstall the correct base version, then run this installer again.
It finished instantly or I ran it twice. Is that a problem?
No. Re-running is safe: files that are already up to date are detected and skipped, so running the installer again never hurts and can't double-apply a patch.
Why does antivirus flag the installer?
It isn't code-signed, so antivirus tools can't verify its origin and fall back to heuristic scanning, the same generic detections (HackTool, Patcher, RiskWare) that flagged your original game files. If antivirus removed it, restore it from quarantine and add an exclusion. See the Safety guide for what's normal and what would be a red flag.
Do I keep the installer after applying?
No. Once the game launches correctly on the new version you can delete the Setup.exe (and Setup.dat). The updated game folder is all that matters.
The game won't launch after patching. What now?
Most often antivirus quarantined a file during the update. Check your AV's quarantine, restore anything from the game folder, add an exclusion, and run the installer again to re-verify. If that doesn't help, ask on our Discord.