BATTLETECH - Games dies on startup

[rc1024]

One line summary of your issue
Games dies on startup

What platform are you running the game on?
Steam

What operating system do you use?
Windows 11

Which version of the game are you running?
Latest

What DLC do you have installed?
Flashpoint, Urban Warfare, Shadowhawk Pack, Heavy Metal

Please explain your issue is in as much detail as possible.
Trying to run the game causes it to immediately exit (before splash) and kills steam. Verifying files fixed it for a day but the issue has reappeared and a second verify did not fix.

Have you tried verifying your files?
Yes

Steps to reproduce the issue
Run game.
Game immediately exits, steam also exits.

Attach DxDiag (PC), System Info log (Mac), or run sudo lshw -html > specs.html and uploaded specs.html (Linux)
File(s) attached

Attach Output Log
Windows: \Users\YourUserName\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH\output_log.txt
Mac OS: Users >{name} > Library > Logs > Unity > Player.log
Linux: ~/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/Player.log
File(s) attached

If the game crashed, please attach the crash file with the time stamp closest to the crash.
Windows: [Steam library folder]\steamapps\common\BATTLETECH\DumpBox
For v.17 and beyond try here: C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BATTLETECH
OSX: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > Steam > steamapps > common > BattleTech > DumpBox
Linux: [Steam library folder]/steamapps/common/BATTLETECH/DumpBox
File(s) attached

If a save game was loaded at the start of the game session, upload it. Please make sure to upload the save game with the timestamp closest to when you loaded it.
Windows:
Steam: [Steam installation folder]\userdata[SteamID]\637090\remote\C0\SGS1
GOG: 'C:\Users\USER_ID\AppData\Local\GOG.com\Galaxy\Applications\50593543263669699\Storage\Shared\Files\C#\SGS#'
Vanilla:'C:\Users\USER_ID\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\BattleTech\C#\SGS#'
OSX:
Steam: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > Steam > userdata > [SteamID] > 637090 > remote > C#> SGS#
GOG: Macintosh HD > Users > [username] > Library > Application Support > GOG.com > Galaxy > Applications > 50593543263669699 > Storage > Shared > Files > C# > SGS#
Vanilla: Macintosh HD > Users > [username]> Library > Application Support > unity.Harebrained Schemes.BattleTech > C# > SGG#
Linux:
Steam: /home/.steam/steam/userdata/[steamID]/637090/remote/C#/SGS#
GOG: /home/[username]/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/remote/C#/SGS#/
Vanilla: /home/[username]/.config/unity3d/Harebrained Schemes/BATTLETECH/remote/C#/SGS#/
File(s) attached

Attach screenshot / video
File(s) attached

 

[AndrewT]

I don't see any clear cause for this in those files, that log in particular is weirdly short.

Has this game ever worked properly on this PC? Or never yet?

You may as well up[date that Nvidia driver to May 2025 https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us
If GeForce Experience or the Nvidia app are running after that, exit them before starting the game.

 

[rc1024]

Yes it worked great back when it was windows 10, I was able to play a full campaign.

Also since doing the win 11 upgrade I was able to get it working for a day or so by verifying files in steam, but that's now not fixing it.

I'll try the Nvidia drivers, might as well at this point.

 

[StarfishPDX]

I believe I am having the same issue, I also have been unable to solve. I have 885 hours logged on this game in Steam... I don't know what has changed, but something has changed. I have been focusing on troubleshooting various graphics and driver related items, verified files via Steam, uninstall/re-install, nothing has managed to fix it. In the course of all of this it has loaded once or twice and won't repeat the trick. I feel like if I could reset to basic graphics settings or load a graphics profile on start that might help, but no obvious way to do so.

 

[AndrewT]

I believe I am having the same issue, I also have been unable to solve. I have 885 hours logged on this game in Steam... I don't know what has changed, but something has changed. I have been focusing on troubleshooting various graphics and driver related items, verified files via Steam, uninstall/re-install, nothing has managed to fix it. In the course of all of this it has loaded once or twice and won't repeat the trick. I feel like if I could reset to basic graphics settings or load a graphics profile on start that might help, but no obvious way to do so.

Can we get your game log please.

 

[StarfishPDX]

Can we get your game log please.

 

[AndrewT]

That does indeed look like the same log. No real idea what could be causing this to you or the OP here.


Please try a **clean** reinstall:

- Remove the game from Steam (uninstall)
- Manually delete all these files and folders, if still there:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\BattleTech\
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\Harebrained Schemes\ (To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\USER_ID\637090\
(first move the \remote\C#\SGS#\ folder elsewhere to keep your save games)

- Install the game again
- add steam.exe and BattleTech.exe to the Whitelist of your antivirus app, whatever it is

If you still get any problem, please send me a new dxdiag.txt and output_log.txt , thank you.

 

[StarfishPDX]

Same result, the AV software in use is Windows Defender on Win11 (and I added those files as exclusions).