How to play Red Alert 2 & Yuri's Revenge on Windows 10 & 11

How to play Red Alert 2 on Windows 10 & 11

Red Alert 2 is now playable on Windows 10 & 11 | Campaign and Multiplayer Online!
 

Step 1: Get Red Alert 2 and Yuri's Revenge 

You can now buy all of the classic Command & Conquer games digitally from either Steam or the EA App as part of The Ultimate Collection. 

If you own a physical copy of Red Alert 2 (not "The First Decade" version), installing the game from the disc no longer works on Windows 10/11.

If you already own the game via The First Decade or digitally via Steam or the EA App, skip this step.

More information on which C&C games have been officially been released as freeware can be found here.

Purchase the C&C Ultimate Collection via Steam

Purchase the C&C Ultimate Collection via the EA App

Step 2: Install the game and apply fixes for Windows 10 & 11

First off, install the game from either The First Decade, Steam or the EA App. Red Alert 2 should be pre-patched, so you won't need to go and hunt down any of Westwood's old patch files.

The CnCNet patch is the essential community update for Red Alert 2: Yuri’s Revenge. As well as providing online services for the game, it contains many bug fixes and fixes compatibility with the latest versions of Windows.

Note: Yuri's Revenge must be installed for Red Alert 2 to work with CnCNet.

Download and install the CnCNet Launcher

Step 3: Play Singleplayer!

To play the Campaign after installing the CnCNet patches, simply launch the game normally through the executable, Steam or the EA App!

Step 4: Play Multiplayer!

Using the CnCNet Launcher, you are now able to battle it out against others Online or play offline skirmish games.

Run the CnCNet Launcher using the Yuri's Revenge CnCNet Shortcut that the install will have created.

To look for online games, using the CnCNet Launcher click "Play Online".

Known Issues

If you own a physical copy of Red Alert 2, installing the game from the disc no longer works on Windows 10/11; this is because Microsoft has removed the SafeDisc copy protection driver from Windows, which the Red Alert 2 CDs use. 

• To redeem your copy of Red Alert 2 on Origin, contact EA Support and your serial key to an advisor. That way, they will be able to verify it and redeem the game on your EA App account.

Odd Graphical Glitches and Rendering Issues

• If you experience any graphical glitches, click on "Options" within the CnCNet Launcher and experiment with the different "Renderer" options.