Game freezing on 'Game Initializing' on Macbook Pro 2020 - First-time player

[Raytard7]

Hi all,

I bought this game recently on Steam having never played it before (but big fan of Stellaris). However, it has repeatedly remained frozen for me on 'game initializing', with me generally being stuck and unable to even see the main menu!

After restarting my Macbook several times, it has only once got me to the main menu - wherein I've been unable to click anything and it has remained frozen (despite the music still playing fine no matter what).

I have tried the following steps so far:

1. Restart my laptop.
2. Verify the game files on Steam before launching Crusader Kings.
3. Conducted a 'hard re-install' - I un-installed the game from Steam, deleted the Application & Crusader Kings files from my hard drive. Then, re-installed the game on Steam, verified the game files on Steam before launching Crusader Kings.

I have done all these, and yet it still has remained frozen on 'game initializing'. I want to try & get it to work rather than ask for the game to be refunded if possible.

Any tips or next steps on what to do re: fixing this would be greatly appreciated!

My Mac Specs: (MacBook Pro 2020)

Graphics = Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 1536 MB

Processer = 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7

MacOS = Sonoma 14.5

 

[AndrewT]

Graphics = Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 1536 MB

As your model of Mac only has an Intel video system, that is probably the cause of your problem. This game now only uses Vulkan as a renderer, not openGL any longer. And Vulkan does not run well or in some cases at all on Intel video Macs. FYI this game has never been supported on that hardware platform since release, so really it's a matter of luck that it ever worked!

If that is the situation, all you can do is play on any other machine you have access to with supported hardware. OR if you have Apple Bootcamp installed, play in Windows there. Or, if you've just bought the game, seek a refund from that store.

Other options include using an eGPU, or a hosting service such as GeForce Now.

Sorry for the bad news!