Game crashes on startup since 3.2.2abcc

[Pirate Simi]

I have a similar issue as described in this thread:
'stellaris-game-crashes-issue-herbert-v3-2-2-abcc.1503795' (in Bug Reports)

Only I can't seem to resolve it with any of the described ideas.

Ever since I installed the new Aquatics DLC and the new game version (Herbert 3.2.2abcc ... haven't played in a while before, don't remember what version I had before that) the game crashes every time I try to start a new game or create an (aquatic) species. I could load old savegames, but can't start any new game, not even with all DLCs deactivated and all settings on default.
As suggested in aforementioned thread I tried starting directly from stellaris.exe and reinstalling the Paradox Launcher (and deleting all paradox files in \Documents and \AppData) ... all to no avail. The launcher updated to 2022.1-rc but that didn't help either.
I did a complete new, clean install of the Paradox Launcher and Stellaris (again, deleting all mentioned paradox-folders), but still no good. The game crashes now already at 30% of the initial startup loading screen.

I'm running the GoG version on Windows 10 on an ASUS ROG G752VS (Intel i7-7820HK CPU @ 2.90GHz, GeForce GTX 1070). Never had any issues with Stellaris before.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[AndrewT]

DXDIAG is a program you run from the Windows search box on the task bar. After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/settings.txt and pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log .

 

[Pirate Simi]

@AndrewT Thanks for the reply. You might be on to something, DxDiag.txt has several errors logged with stellaris.exe
For some reason I don't have a settings.txt in Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/ (which might also be, why it's reported missing or access denied in the error.log . The rest of the files are attached here.

As mentioned above, I haven't fiddled around with anything since the last clean install.

 

[AndrewT]

[11:25:09][virtualfilesystem_physfs.cpp:1193]: Could not open file: settings.txt, error: permission denied

Your antivirus app is getting in the way. Add stellaris.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

You should add steam.exe and C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2021.10.1/paradox launcher.exe to that list.

 

[Pirate Simi]

That did the trick indeed, thanks a lot @AndrewT ! Everything is working fine now !
(I'm using Avast Free Antivirus, no Windows Defender, but adding mentioned folders to the exeption list worked like a charm.)