Game won't start

[Akakiy111]

Setting breakpad minidump AppID = 529340
SteamInternal_SetMinidumpSteamID: Caching Steam ID: 76561198083067231 [API loaded no]
Fossilize ERROR: Failed to parse ApplicationInfoFilter, letting recording go through.
Fossilize ERROR: Failed to parse ApplicationInfoFilter, letting recording go through.
Fossilize INFO: Overriding serialization path: "E:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\shadercache\529340\fozpipelinesv6\steamapprun_pipeline_cache".

It gives this error, I reinstalled the drivers, checked the files, reinstalled the game - nothing happens

 

[chrism2012]

Do you launch the game with rendering 'Vulkan', or DX11? Try changing the rendering setting and see if something changes.
See the link to another posting in CK3 tech-problems, the error disappeared after changing to DX11.

EDIT: Go to Steam Library / Victoria 3 / right click mouse => select last 'Properties' / in first tab 'General' under line 'Launch Options' add -vulkan / try starting the game again.

 

[Black_Shade]

Are you on an nvidia card? If so, what are your driver dates? There was some bug with the nvidia drivers from ~september 2024 to march 2025 that prevented Vic3 from launching. So if you haven't updated your drivers in a few months, you might try that.

 

[Akakiy111]

So, I changed it to Directx11, the game started to launch, but now when I try to start a new game, at the moment of loading the map, it started to crash without any messages XD

 

[Akakiy111]

Are you on an nvidia card? If so, what are your driver dates? There was some bug with the nvidia drivers from ~september 2024 to march 2025 that prevented Vic3 from launching. So if you haven't updated your drivers in a few months, you might try that.

Yes, Nvidia, the drivers are the latest version

 

[chrism2012]

So, I changed it to Directx11, the game started to launch, but now when I try to start a new game, at the moment of loading the map, it started to crash without any messages XD

Assuming for Windows-PC (otherwise /linux: look for the Victoria 3 user folder):

1.
First try to delete your pdx_settings.json (make a backup of the file first) in folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3.

2. Also:
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\crashes => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\dumps => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\exceptions => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\logs => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\shadercache\dx11 => delete all folders inside (don't delete the folder dx11 itself!)

Try starting the game once more.

 

[Akakiy111]

Assuming for Windows-PC (otherwise /linux: look for the Victoria 3 user folder):

1.
First try to delete your pdx_settings.json (make a backup of the file first) in folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3.

2. Also:
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\crashes => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\dumps => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\exceptions => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\logs => delete all files inside (don't delete the folder itself!)
- Go into the folder C:\Users\...\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Victoria 3\shadercache\dx11 => delete all folders inside (don't delete the folder dx11 itself!)

Try starting the game once more.

I did it, the error remained

 

[chrism2012]

I did it, the error remained

I guess this thread will have to be moved to Tech Support then.
Anyway, remember to always delete the files from the above folders 'logs' and 'dx11'/'vulkan' after an update, or if you use mods etc. as it helps against many errors (unfortunately, not yours).

Can you zip and upload the various log files (debug, error, memory, system, warning etc.) from within the 'log' folder?
Maybe there's some explanation there.

 

[Akakiy111]

Here are all the files from the last crash, I don't know what can be useful from this, unfortunately

 

[chrism2012]

Here are all the files from the last crash, I don't know what can be useful from this, unfortunately

Hmm, have you already tried to change the game language to English? Maybe there are some primary issues with the game and engine when using Russian...

EDIT: Another thing: Do you use Onedrive as file backup or something similar for clout saves? Onedrive too can make problems...

 

[Akakiy111]

Hmm, have you already tried to change the game language to English? Maybe there are some primary issues with the game and engine when using Russian...

EDIT: Another thing: Do you use Onedrive as file backup or something similar for clout saves? Onedrive too can make problems...

I tried changing the language - everything remained unchanged. Onedrive is used, if at all, then "by default", I didn't get into it myself)

And I didn’t try to load any saves, I even deleted them on purpose.

 

[chrism2012]

I tried changing the language - everything remained unchanged. Onedrive is used, if at all, then "by default", I didn't get into it myself)

And I didn’t try to load any saves, I even deleted them on purpose.

Hmm, at this point I too am at a loss regarding standard crash causes, it could be literally anything, sorry.

Do you have other Paradox games that are working?

I'll try to look into the dmp file using windbg, but maybe someone else also has some ideas...

UPDATE: According to the minidump.dmp file the issue is related to d3d11.dll which unfortunately can mean anything.

- I can only suggest that you delete your pdx_settings.json one more time and all the above files in my stated folders.
- Then try again with the Steam launch option -dx11, then in the Paradox launcher look if the 'game settings' are correct for your PC AND turn on 'open game in debug mode'.
- Then, after loading the game to the main screen, go to settings and look at all graphics settings if they are correct for your PC, you might also try the lowest graphics settings and fix the maximum framerate to 30 or 60 fps with vsync off, or else vsync on.

Like I said, at this point it could be anything, RAM, graphics card, virtual memory...

 

[AndrewT]

Please do a full clean re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-Vic3
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/Victoria3 AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3 folders - In particular make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam Victoria3 or Documents Victoria3 locations, before installing again.
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add Victoria3.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

THEN Right click on victoria3.exe , properties, compatibility. Tick "disable fullScreen optimisations" untick every other box in that dialog, Apply and exit.
Then in the launcher Game Settings menu, select fullScreen display mode, Vsync off, cap refresh rate at 60.


If those don't help:
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.
IF dxdiag.txt fails to attach here, rename it to dxdiag.log , or zip it up.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3/pdx_settings.json .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3/crashes/ folder, attach here the latest (only!) exceptions.txt

 

[Akakiy111]

Please do a full clean re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-Vic3
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/Victoria3 AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3 folders - In particular make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam Victoria3 or Documents Victoria3 locations, before installing again.
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add Victoria3.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

THEN Right click on victoria3.exe , properties, compatibility. Tick "disable fullScreen optimisations" untick every other box in that dialog, Apply and exit.
Then in the launcher Game Settings menu, select fullScreen display mode, Vsync off, cap refresh rate at 60.


If those don't help:
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.
IF dxdiag.txt fails to attach here, rename it to dxdiag.log , or zip it up.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3/pdx_settings.json .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Victoria3/crashes/ folder, attach here the latest (only!) exceptions.txt

Here are all the files, pdx_settings.json , for some reason, is missing, although it was before the complete reinstallation

 

[AndrewT]

I do see crashes in CK3 in that dxdiag too, would you say it is having similar issues?

You don't have either of the current common crash causes, Intel 13-14gen CPUs and Windows 11 24H2. Despite that, I'm going to suggest you check with Gigabyte for an updated bios for this PC.


And Please expand your Windows paging file maximum size to 32gb
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/openpag...increasing-paging-file-size-windows-computers
AND exit every other app you can before starting the game.

Good luck!