If you’ve ever looked in your Windows “Programs and Features” list and seen “Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x64)” or “(x86)” , you’ve likely wondered if it’s necessary or just bloatware. The short answer: It’s critical for many games and applications, but the average user doesn’t need to manage it directly. What It Actually Is (In Plain English) In simple terms, the Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable is a free, official Microsoft package that installs runtime components required to run programs written in C++ using Visual Studio 2013.