Exit Code Null - game won't open

[Neolif]

View attachment 949817

Try this on Steam:

 

[AndrewT]

Ah, so it does not in fact say it can't find the game; rather it's the same message as you had originally. Whew!

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer?

 

[Thario94]

It is the exact same problem it always was. I must have worded it wrong, I apologize for that.
It still works when I start the game without steam, just as before. But I would like to use the workshop for mods and Steam for achievements.

 

[Thario94]

I am not sure if the error message changed at some point after we tried to repair it, I assume I was just paraphrasing it falsely. Again, sorry for that.

 

[AndrewT]

A bit hard to see why you can start ck3.exe but the launcher can't.


What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

ck3.exe (in the Steam CK3-binaries folder)
dowser.exe (in the Steam CK3-launcher folder)
C:/users/{UserName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2023..14/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/{UserName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT ck3.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

Then the game should run from Steam/our launcher, and enable all the DLCs.

 

[Thario94]

I am using Windows Defender. I put all those folders and files into its exception list and also enabled run as admin. Now when I activate the launcher through steam it asks me if I want to launch dowser as an admin and then states:
Steam runtime communication error

 

[AndrewT]

Hmmmm. You didn't set ck3.exe to run as Admin, did you? Because that creates problems of its own.

 

[Thario94]

No, I did not. There was the option to "ignore" this message, but then the launcher could not access my dlc or the mods.

I just want to play ck3 again...

 

[Cooolek]

I had the same problem, but when launching Imperator: Rome. I made it working when I went into properties of imperator.exe and disabled, launching it as administrator. Likewise, I think it would work the same with ck3.exe, Hope it helps!

 

[AndrewT]

No, I did not. There was the option to "ignore" this message, but then the launcher could not access my dlc or the mods.

I just want to play ck3 again...

Hmm, not sure why we're having such trouble on this machine.

What if you make a new Windows user and log into windows with that? Same problem?

 

[Thario94]

Hmm, not sure why we're having such trouble on this machine.

What if you make a new Windows user and log into windows with that? Same problem?

okay that did work! But why? and how can I fix that? Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[AndrewT]

okay that did work! But why? and how can I fix that? Thanks for all the help so far!

That means that either there is some app or utility running under that problem Windows user that gets in the way of this game. OR that user profile is corrupted.

In that problem user go into the Startup settings and disable everything, and reboot. If it works, one of the things you disabled was the problem. If it still has a problem, that user profile has a problem. I can't really help with that I'm afraid.

 

[Thario94]

It didn´t work sadly...
I am now getting this error message when I am trying to start the game btw:

 

[Thario94]

It is trying to reínstall the launcher, but fails. The launcher is installed though and I can start it without steam, but then it cannot find the game....

 

[AndrewT]

Please try this:

- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.

Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

- exit the Steam app entirely
- run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user
- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam

IF that doesn't help, in this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

 

[Thario94]

Please try this:

- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.

Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

- exit the Steam app entirely
- run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user
- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam

IF that doesn't help, in this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

It worked! Thanks a lot for your patience!

 

[Thario94]

Sadly, the game still crashes randomly and now also the upload of the crash reports fail...

 

[Thario94]

Here are the logs you mentioned

 

[Thario94]

I have played some more using Vulkan and for now, it worked. Don´t know what´s wrong with DX11, but I will take what I can get.

 

[AndrewT]

Launcher logs will not help us diagnose a game crash, I'm afraid. Once the game runs the launcher is unloaded.

In Windows Vulkan support in this game is only intended as a diagnostic measure, so we should try and diagnose your problem. That said, if it is really DX11 at fault that can only really be a Windows or video driver issue!