diff --git a/src/openrct2-ui/interface/Theme.cpp b/src/openrct2-ui/interface/Theme.cpp
index 167196a3d1..fd25a92873 100644
--- a/src/openrct2-ui/interface/Theme.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2-ui/interface/Theme.cpp
@@ -617,9 +617,9 @@ namespace ThemeManager
         ActiveAvailableThemeIndex = 1;
 
         bool configValid = false;
-        if (!String::IsNullOrEmpty(gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset))
+        if (!gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset.empty())
         {
-            if (LoadThemeByConfigName(gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset))
+            if (LoadThemeByConfigName(gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset.c_str()))
             {
                 configValid = true;
             }
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ namespace ThemeManager
 
         if (!configValid)
         {
-            String::DiscardDuplicate(&gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset, ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(1));
+            gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset = ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(1);
         }
     }
 
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@ void ThemeManagerSetActiveAvailableTheme(size_t index)
         }
     }
     ThemeManager::ActiveAvailableThemeIndex = index;
-    String::DiscardDuplicate(&gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset, ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(index));
+    gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset = ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(index);
 
     ColourSchemeUpdateAll();
 }
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@ void ThemeRename(const utf8* name)
         if (Path::Equals(newPath, ThemeManager::AvailableThemes[i].Path))
         {
             ThemeManager::ActiveAvailableThemeIndex = i;
-            String::DiscardDuplicate(&gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset, ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(1));
+            gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset = ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(1);
             break;
         }
     }
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ void ThemeDuplicate(const utf8* name)
         if (Path::Equals(newPath, ThemeManager::AvailableThemes[i].Path))
         {
             ThemeManager::ActiveAvailableThemeIndex = i;
-            String::DiscardDuplicate(&gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset, ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(i));
+            gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset = ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(i);
             break;
         }
     }
@@ -841,7 +841,7 @@ void ThemeDelete()
     File::Delete(ThemeManager::CurrentThemePath);
     ThemeManager::LoadTheme(const_cast<UITheme*>(&PredefinedThemeRCT2));
     ThemeManager::ActiveAvailableThemeIndex = 1;
-    String::DiscardDuplicate(&gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset, ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(1));
+    gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset = ThemeManagerGetAvailableThemeConfigName(1);
 }
 
 void ThemeManagerInitialise()
diff --git a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/CustomCurrency.cpp b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/CustomCurrency.cpp
index 0a8a3f9d52..28953a2eaa 100644
--- a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/CustomCurrency.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/CustomCurrency.cpp
@@ -164,9 +164,7 @@ public:
                     CurrencyDescriptors[EnumValue(CurrencyType::Custom)].symbol_unicode, std::string(text).c_str(),
                     CURRENCY_SYMBOL_MAX_SIZE);
 
-                safe_strcpy(
-                    gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencySymbol, CurrencyDescriptors[EnumValue(CurrencyType::Custom)].symbol_unicode,
-                    CURRENCY_SYMBOL_MAX_SIZE);
+                gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencySymbol = CurrencyDescriptors[EnumValue(CurrencyType::Custom)].symbol_unicode;
 
                 ConfigSaveDefault();
                 window_invalidate_all();
diff --git a/src/openrct2/Context.cpp b/src/openrct2/Context.cpp
index bc1d8207a1..e848ef084f 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/Context.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/Context.cpp
@@ -199,7 +199,6 @@ namespace OpenRCT2
             gfx_unload_g2();
             gfx_unload_g1();
             Audio::Close();
-            ConfigRelease();
 
             Instance = nullptr;
         }
diff --git a/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp b/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp
index bc1251e369..e462d9c9fb 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ namespace Config
             model->CustomCurrencyRate = reader->GetInt32("custom_currency_rate", 10);
             model->CustomCurrencyAffix = reader->GetEnum<CurrencyAffix>(
                 "custom_currency_affix", CurrencyAffix::Suffix, Enum_CurrencySymbolAffix);
-            model->CustomCurrencySymbol = reader->GetCString("custom_currency_symbol", "Ctm");
+            model->CustomCurrencySymbol = reader->GetString("custom_currency_symbol", "Ctm");
             model->EdgeScrolling = reader->GetBoolean("edge_scrolling", true);
             model->EdgeScrollingSpeed = reader->GetInt32("edge_scrolling_speed", 12);
             model->FullscreenMode = reader->GetInt32("fullscreen_mode", 0);
@@ -325,8 +325,8 @@ namespace Config
             model->ToolbarShowChat = reader->GetBoolean("toolbar_show_chat", false);
             model->ToolbarShowZoom = reader->GetBoolean("toolbar_show_zoom", true);
             model->ConsoleSmallFont = reader->GetBoolean("console_small_font", false);
-            model->CurrentThemePreset = reader->GetCString("current_theme", "*RCT2");
-            model->CurrentTitleSequencePreset = reader->GetCString("current_title_sequence", "*OPENRCT2");
+            model->CurrentThemePreset = reader->GetString("current_theme", "*RCT2");
+            model->CurrentTitleSequencePreset = reader->GetString("current_title_sequence", "*OPENRCT2");
             model->RandomTitleSequence = reader->GetBoolean("random_title_sequence", false);
             model->ObjectSelectionFilterFlags = reader->GetInt32("object_selection_filter_flags", 0x3FFF);
             model->ScenarioselectLastTab = reader->GetInt32("scenarioselect_last_tab", 0);
@@ -511,8 +511,8 @@ namespace Config
         if (reader->ReadSection("font"))
         {
             auto model = &gConfigFonts;
-            model->FileName = reader->GetCString("file_name", nullptr);
-            model->FontName = reader->GetCString("font_name", nullptr);
+            model->FileName = reader->GetString("file_name", "");
+            model->FontName = reader->GetString("font_name", "");
             model->OffsetX = reader->GetInt32("x_offset", false);
             model->OffsetY = reader->GetInt32("y_offset", true);
             model->SizeTiny = reader->GetInt32("size_tiny", true);
@@ -775,7 +775,6 @@ PluginConfiguration gConfigPlugin;
 
 void ConfigSetDefaults()
 {
-    ConfigRelease();
     Config::SetDefaults();
 }
 
@@ -786,7 +785,6 @@ bool ConfigOpen(u8string_view path)
         return false;
     }
 
-    ConfigRelease();
     auto result = Config::ReadFile(path);
     if (result)
     {
@@ -800,15 +798,6 @@ bool ConfigSave(u8string_view path)
     return Config::WriteFile(path);
 }
 
-void ConfigRelease()
-{
-    SafeFree(gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencySymbol);
-    SafeFree(gConfigInterface.CurrentThemePreset);
-    SafeFree(gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset);
-    SafeFree(gConfigFonts.FileName);
-    SafeFree(gConfigFonts.FontName);
-}
-
 u8string ConfigGetDefaultPath()
 {
     auto env = GetContext()->GetPlatformEnvironment();
diff --git a/src/openrct2/config/Config.h b/src/openrct2/config/Config.h
index 282b6dd5c4..0f42da874d 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/config/Config.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/config/Config.h
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ struct GeneralConfiguration
     CurrencyType CurrencyFormat;
     int32_t CustomCurrencyRate;
     CurrencyAffix CustomCurrencyAffix;
-    utf8* CustomCurrencySymbol;
+    u8string CustomCurrencySymbol;
 
     // Controls
     bool EdgeScrolling;
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ struct InterfaceConfiguration
     bool ToolbarShowZoom;
     bool ConsoleSmallFont;
     bool RandomTitleSequence;
-    utf8* CurrentThemePreset;
-    utf8* CurrentTitleSequencePreset;
+    u8string CurrentThemePreset;
+    u8string CurrentTitleSequencePreset;
     int32_t ObjectSelectionFilterFlags;
     int32_t ScenarioselectLastTab;
     bool ListRideVehiclesSeparately;
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ struct InterfaceConfiguration
 
 struct SoundConfiguration
 {
-    std::string Device;
+    u8string Device;
     bool MasterSoundEnabled;
     uint8_t MasterVolume;
     TitleMusicKind TitleMusic;
@@ -152,21 +152,21 @@ struct SoundConfiguration
 
 struct NetworkConfiguration
 {
-    std::string PlayerName;
+    u8string PlayerName;
     int32_t DefaultPort;
-    std::string ListenAddress;
-    std::string DefaultPassword;
+    u8string ListenAddress;
+    u8string DefaultPassword;
     bool StayConnected;
     bool Advertise;
-    std::string AdvertiseAddress;
+    u8string AdvertiseAddress;
     int32_t Maxplayers;
-    std::string ServerName;
-    std::string ServerDescription;
-    std::string ServerGreeting;
-    std::string MasterServerUrl;
-    std::string ProviderName;
-    std::string ProviderEmail;
-    std::string ProviderWebsite;
+    u8string ServerName;
+    u8string ServerDescription;
+    u8string ServerGreeting;
+    u8string MasterServerUrl;
+    u8string ProviderName;
+    u8string ProviderEmail;
+    u8string ProviderWebsite;
     bool KnownKeysOnly;
     bool LogChat;
     bool LogServerActions;
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ struct NotificationConfiguration
 
 struct FontConfiguration
 {
-    utf8* FileName;
-    utf8* FontName;
+    u8string FileName;
+    u8string FontName;
     int32_t OffsetX;
     int32_t OffsetY;
     int32_t SizeTiny;
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ struct FontConfiguration
 struct PluginConfiguration
 {
     bool EnableHotReloading;
-    std::string AllowedHosts;
+    u8string AllowedHosts;
 };
 
 enum class Sort : int32_t
@@ -268,7 +268,6 @@ bool ConfigOpen(u8string_view path);
 bool ConfigSave(u8string_view path);
 u8string ConfigGetDefaultPath();
 void ConfigSetDefaults();
-void ConfigRelease();
 bool ConfigSaveDefault();
 bool ConfigFindOrBrowseInstallDirectory();
 
diff --git a/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.cpp b/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.cpp
index 07e7d956f9..46fbbc783d 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.cpp
@@ -427,17 +427,6 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
-utf8* IIniReader::GetCString(const std::string& name, const utf8* defaultValue) const
-{
-    std::string szValue;
-    if (!TryGetString(name, &szValue))
-    {
-        return String::Duplicate(defaultValue);
-    }
-
-    return String::Duplicate(szValue.c_str());
-}
-
 std::unique_ptr<IIniReader> CreateIniReader(OpenRCT2::IStream* stream)
 {
     return std::make_unique<IniReader>(stream);
diff --git a/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.hpp b/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.hpp
index f9e9546e1a..7a0181329b 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.hpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/config/IniReader.hpp
@@ -45,8 +45,6 @@ struct IIniReader
 
         return configEnum.GetValue(szValue, defaultValue);
     }
-
-    utf8* GetCString(const std::string& name, const utf8* defaultValue) const;
 };
 
 [[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<IIniReader> CreateIniReader(OpenRCT2::IStream* stream);
diff --git a/src/openrct2/interface/Fonts.cpp b/src/openrct2/interface/Fonts.cpp
index 5ab52fe316..4441a6db4a 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/interface/Fonts.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/interface/Fonts.cpp
@@ -128,12 +128,12 @@ static bool LoadFont(LocalisationService& localisationService, TTFFontSetDescrip
 static bool LoadCustomConfigFont(LocalisationService& localisationService)
 {
     static TTFFontSetDescriptor TTFFontCustom = { {
-        { gConfigFonts.FileName, gConfigFonts.FontName, gConfigFonts.SizeTiny, gConfigFonts.OffsetX, gConfigFonts.OffsetY,
-          gConfigFonts.HeightTiny, gConfigFonts.HintingThreshold, nullptr },
-        { gConfigFonts.FileName, gConfigFonts.FontName, gConfigFonts.SizeSmall, gConfigFonts.OffsetX, gConfigFonts.OffsetY,
-          gConfigFonts.HeightSmall, gConfigFonts.HintingThreshold, nullptr },
-        { gConfigFonts.FileName, gConfigFonts.FontName, gConfigFonts.SizeMedium, gConfigFonts.OffsetX, gConfigFonts.OffsetY,
-          gConfigFonts.HeightMedium, gConfigFonts.HintingThreshold, nullptr },
+        { gConfigFonts.FileName.c_str(), gConfigFonts.FontName.c_str(), gConfigFonts.SizeTiny, gConfigFonts.OffsetX,
+          gConfigFonts.OffsetY, gConfigFonts.HeightTiny, gConfigFonts.HintingThreshold, nullptr },
+        { gConfigFonts.FileName.c_str(), gConfigFonts.FontName.c_str(), gConfigFonts.SizeSmall, gConfigFonts.OffsetX,
+          gConfigFonts.OffsetY, gConfigFonts.HeightSmall, gConfigFonts.HintingThreshold, nullptr },
+        { gConfigFonts.FileName.c_str(), gConfigFonts.FontName.c_str(), gConfigFonts.SizeMedium, gConfigFonts.OffsetX,
+          gConfigFonts.OffsetY, gConfigFonts.HeightMedium, gConfigFonts.HintingThreshold, nullptr },
     } };
 
     ttf_dispose();
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void TryLoadFonts(LocalisationService& localisationService)
 
     if (fontFamily != FAMILY_OPENRCT2_SPRITE)
     {
-        if (!String::IsNullOrEmpty(gConfigFonts.FileName))
+        if (!gConfigFonts.FileName.empty())
         {
             if (LoadCustomConfigFont(localisationService))
             {
diff --git a/src/openrct2/localisation/Currency.cpp b/src/openrct2/localisation/Currency.cpp
index 01892232bc..55a0a4d115 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/localisation/Currency.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/localisation/Currency.cpp
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ void currency_load_custom_currency_config()
 {
     CurrencyDescriptors[EnumValue(CurrencyType::Custom)].rate = gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencyRate;
     CurrencyDescriptors[EnumValue(CurrencyType::Custom)].affix_unicode = gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencyAffix;
-    if (gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencySymbol != nullptr)
+    if (!gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencySymbol.empty())
     {
         safe_strcpy(
-            CurrencyDescriptors[EnumValue(CurrencyType::Custom)].symbol_unicode, gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencySymbol,
+            CurrencyDescriptors[EnumValue(CurrencyType::Custom)].symbol_unicode, gConfigGeneral.CustomCurrencySymbol.c_str(),
             CURRENCY_SYMBOL_MAX_SIZE);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/openrct2/title/TitleScreen.cpp b/src/openrct2/title/TitleScreen.cpp
index b7366d2eda..6c7bf2d7ae 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/title/TitleScreen.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/title/TitleScreen.cpp
@@ -201,8 +201,7 @@ void TitleScreen::ChangePresetSequence(size_t preset)
     }
 
     const utf8* configId = title_sequence_manager_get_config_id(preset);
-    SafeFree(gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset);
-    gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset = _strdup(configId);
+    gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset = configId;
 
     if (!_previewingSequence)
         _currentSequence = preset;
@@ -319,8 +318,7 @@ bool TitleScreen::TryLoadSequence(bool loadPreview)
                     {
                         // Forcefully change the preset to a preset that works.
                         const utf8* configId = title_sequence_manager_get_config_id(targetSequence);
-                        SafeFree(gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset);
-                        gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset = _strdup(configId);
+                        gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset = configId;
                     }
                     _currentSequence = targetSequence;
                     gfx_invalidate_screen();
@@ -397,7 +395,7 @@ void title_set_hide_version_info(bool value)
 
 size_t title_get_config_sequence()
 {
-    return title_sequence_manager_get_index_for_config_id(gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset);
+    return title_sequence_manager_get_index_for_config_id(gConfigInterface.CurrentTitleSequencePreset.c_str());
 }
 
 size_t title_get_current_sequence()
diff --git a/test/tests/IniReaderTest.cpp b/test/tests/IniReaderTest.cpp
index 521a3e7692..633370ebea 100644
--- a/test/tests/IniReaderTest.cpp
+++ b/test/tests/IniReaderTest.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ TEST_F(IniReaderTest, create_empty)
     auto ir = CreateIniReader(&ms);
     ASSERT_NE(ir, nullptr);
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetBoolean("nobody", true), true);
-    ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetCString("expects", nullptr), nullptr);
+    ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetString("expects", ""), "");
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetEnum<int32_t>("spanish", 12345, Enum_Currency), 12345);
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetFloat("inquisition", 1.234f), 1.234f);
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetInt32("universal_answer", 42), 42);
@@ -64,9 +64,8 @@ TEST_F(IniReaderTest, read_prepared)
     // values from different sections
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetInt32("one", 42), 42);
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetBoolean("boolval", false), true);
-    const utf8* str = ir->GetCString("path", nullptr);
-    ASSERT_STREQ(str, u8"C:'\\some/dir\\here/神鷹暢遊");
-    Memory::Free(str);
+    const auto& str = ir->GetString("path", "");
+    ASSERT_STREQ(str.c_str(), u8"C:'\\some/dir\\here/神鷹暢遊");
     // go back a section
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->ReadSection("int"), true);
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetInt32("one", 42), 1);
@@ -107,9 +106,8 @@ TEST_F(IniReaderTest, read_untrimmed)
     // there should only be data from the last section
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->ReadSection("section"), true);
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetBoolean("one", false), true);
-    const utf8* str = ir->GetCString("str", nullptr);
-    ASSERT_STREQ(str, "  xxx ");
-    Memory::Free(str);
+    const auto& str = ir->GetString("str", "");
+    ASSERT_STREQ(str.c_str(), "  xxx ");
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetString("str", "yyy"), "  xxx ");
     ASSERT_EQ(ir->GetString("nosuchthing", "  yyy "), "  yyy ");
 }