diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/FileSystem/FileSystem.cs b/OpenRA.Game/FileSystem/FileSystem.cs
index 0b17496d69..f5ef8af7b3 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/FileSystem/FileSystem.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/FileSystem/FileSystem.cs
@@ -277,40 +277,6 @@ namespace OpenRA.FileSystem
 			return !filename.StartsWith($"{modID}|", StringComparison.Ordinal);
 		}
 
-		/// <summary>
-		/// Resolves a filesystem for an assembly, accounting for explicit and mod mounts.
-		/// Assemblies must exist in the native OS file system (not inside an OpenRA-defined package).
-		/// </summary>
-		public static string ResolveAssemblyPath(string path, Manifest manifest, InstalledMods installedMods)
-		{
-			var explicitSplit = path.IndexOf('|');
-			if (explicitSplit > 0 && !path.StartsWith('^'))
-			{
-				var parent = path[..explicitSplit];
-				var filename = path[(explicitSplit + 1)..];
-
-				var parentPath = manifest.Packages.FirstOrDefault(kv => kv.Value == parent).Key;
-				if (parentPath == null)
-					return null;
-
-				if (parentPath.StartsWith('$'))
-				{
-					if (!installedMods.TryGetValue(parentPath[1..], out var mod))
-						return null;
-
-					if (mod.Package is not Folder)
-						return null;
-
-					path = Path.Combine(mod.Package.Name, filename);
-				}
-				else
-					path = Path.Combine(parentPath, filename);
-			}
-
-			var resolvedPath = Platform.ResolvePath(path);
-			return File.Exists(resolvedPath) ? resolvedPath : null;
-		}
-
 		public static string ResolveCaseInsensitivePath(string path)
 		{
 			var resolved = Path.GetPathRoot(path);
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs
index 9f8b183938..32c45eed57 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Manifest.cs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		public readonly ModMetadata Metadata;
 		public readonly string[]
 			Rules, ServerTraits,
-			Sequences, ModelSequences, Cursors, Chrome, Assemblies, ChromeLayout,
+			Sequences, ModelSequences, Cursors, Chrome, ChromeLayout,
 			Weapons, Voices, Notifications, Music, Translations, TileSets,
 			ChromeMetrics, MapCompatibility, Missions, Hotkeys;
 
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ namespace OpenRA
 		public readonly MiniYaml LoadScreen;
 		public readonly string DefaultOrderGenerator;
 
+		public readonly string[] Assemblies = Array.Empty<string>();
 		public readonly string[] SoundFormats = Array.Empty<string>();
 		public readonly string[] SpriteFormats = Array.Empty<string>();
 		public readonly string[] PackageFormats = Array.Empty<string>();
@@ -130,7 +131,6 @@ namespace OpenRA
 			ModelSequences = YamlList(yaml, "ModelSequences");
 			Cursors = YamlList(yaml, "Cursors");
 			Chrome = YamlList(yaml, "Chrome");
-			Assemblies = YamlList(yaml, "Assemblies");
 			ChromeLayout = YamlList(yaml, "ChromeLayout");
 			Weapons = YamlList(yaml, "Weapons");
 			Voices = YamlList(yaml, "Voices");
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ namespace OpenRA
 			if (yaml.TryGetValue("DefaultOrderGenerator", out entry))
 				DefaultOrderGenerator = entry.Value;
 
+			if (yaml.TryGetValue("Assemblies", out entry))
+				Assemblies = FieldLoader.GetValue<string[]>("Assemblies", entry.Value);
+
 			if (yaml.TryGetValue("PackageFormats", out entry))
 				PackageFormats = FieldLoader.GetValue<string[]>("PackageFormats", entry.Value);
 
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/ObjectCreator.cs b/OpenRA.Game/ObjectCreator.cs
index 5e382908b8..e972332b7e 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/ObjectCreator.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/ObjectCreator.cs
@@ -34,16 +34,10 @@ namespace OpenRA
 			ctorCache = new Cache<Type, ConstructorInfo>(GetCtor);
 
 			// Allow mods to load types from the core Game assembly, and any additional assemblies they specify.
-			// Assemblies can only be loaded from directories to avoid circular dependencies on package loaders.
+			// Assemblies must exist in the game binary directory next to the main game executable.
 			var assemblyList = new List<Assembly>() { typeof(Game).Assembly };
-			foreach (var path in manifest.Assemblies)
-			{
-				var resolvedPath = FileSystem.FileSystem.ResolveAssemblyPath(path, manifest, mods);
-				if (resolvedPath == null)
-					throw new FileNotFoundException($"Assembly `{path}` not found.");
-
-				LoadAssembly(assemblyList, resolvedPath);
-			}
+			foreach (var filename in manifest.Assemblies)
+				LoadAssembly(assemblyList, Path.Combine(Platform.BinDir, filename));
 
 			AppDomain.CurrentDomain.AssemblyResolve += ResolveAssembly;
 			assemblies = assemblyList.SelectMany(asm => asm.GetNamespaces().Select(ns => (asm, ns))).ToArray();
diff --git a/mods/all/mod.yaml b/mods/all/mod.yaml
index 1429b17a5a..736d9f77aa 100644
--- a/mods/all/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/all/mod.yaml
@@ -10,10 +10,7 @@ Cursors:
 
 Chrome:
 
-Assemblies:
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.D2k.dll
+Assemblies: OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll, OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll, OpenRA.Mods.D2k.dll
 
 ChromeLayout:
 
diff --git a/mods/cnc/mod.yaml b/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
index b86e3a5970..05291b9d8f 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/mod.yaml
@@ -89,9 +89,7 @@ Cursors:
 Chrome:
 	cnc|chrome.yaml
 
-Assemblies:
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
+Assemblies: OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll, OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
 
 ChromeLayout:
 	cnc|chrome/mainmenu.yaml
diff --git a/mods/d2k/mod.yaml b/mods/d2k/mod.yaml
index 5256b7d1c2..4056b5b98e 100644
--- a/mods/d2k/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/d2k/mod.yaml
@@ -62,10 +62,7 @@ Cursors:
 Chrome:
 	d2k|chrome.yaml
 
-Assemblies:
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.D2k.dll
+Assemblies: OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll, OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll, OpenRA.Mods.D2k.dll
 
 ChromeLayout:
 	common|chrome/ingame.yaml
diff --git a/mods/modcontent/mod.yaml b/mods/modcontent/mod.yaml
index 585c6a003b..64e8d5c5b0 100644
--- a/mods/modcontent/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/modcontent/mod.yaml
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ Cursors:
 Chrome:
 	modcontent|chrome.yaml
 
-Assemblies:
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll
+Assemblies: OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll
 
 ChromeLayout:
 	modcontent|content.yaml
diff --git a/mods/ra/mod.yaml b/mods/ra/mod.yaml
index b188ed1a83..6a2aa8f7ff 100644
--- a/mods/ra/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/mod.yaml
@@ -80,9 +80,7 @@ Cursors:
 Chrome:
 	ra|chrome.yaml
 
-Assemblies:
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
+Assemblies: OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll, OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
 
 ChromeLayout:
 	common|chrome/ingame.yaml
diff --git a/mods/ts/mod.yaml b/mods/ts/mod.yaml
index cdf0521df0..65407b2350 100644
--- a/mods/ts/mod.yaml
+++ b/mods/ts/mod.yaml
@@ -124,9 +124,7 @@ Cursors:
 Chrome:
 	ts|chrome.yaml
 
-Assemblies:
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll
-	^BinDir|OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
+Assemblies: OpenRA.Mods.Common.dll, OpenRA.Mods.Cnc.dll
 
 ChromeLayout:
 	common|chrome/ingame.yaml