Launcher crash error. Exit code null

[hutix]

Hello, I don't if I had the same issue than "Vaalraiser" but I have also an "Exit Code Null" error message from my launcher. I can't run the game from the launcher but I can run it without (using Victoria3.exe in the Steam Vic3-binaries folder). If I run without the launcher, I don't have any DLC's activated so I don't know what to do. I tried to uninstall Steam, Victoria 3, removing all files in AppData, documents and so on... The launcher don't let me to play the game (with DLC's)
Can you please help me ?
PS: I had the "Exit Code Null" from my PC shut down during the game. The spec on my PC are way over the requirements so no overheating issues.

 

[AndrewT]

I've moved you into your own thread, as the one you "me too" posted in was 2 years old and so probably an unrelated issue.

Have you ever been able to run this game from Steam/our launcher? Or it's always been like this? If it used to work do you know what change or update seemed to trigger the issue?


Make sure NONE of these files are set to run as the Windows Admin user:

steam.exe
victoria3.exe (in the Steam Vic3/binaries folder)
dowser.exe (in the Steam Vic3/launcher folder)
C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2025.5/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

 

[hutix]

Thanks you very much. Indeed, victoria3.exe was run as Windows Admin user. Now i can run the game from both with and without launcher.
However, it remains the one main issue that bring me to this forum. When I zoom in the game, my computer completely shut down. I notice that my GPU and CPU are not overheating, and i have enough power supply for my component also. When I played with no zoom, no problems appears (but it's pity of course). Have you faced the same issue and maybe a way to tackle it ?

 

[AndrewT]

When I zoom in the game, my computer completely shut down.

if you have Windows 11 24H2 then you'll be experiencing the same problem that AFAIK all users with that version are.





Some users found relief in various ways:


https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...r-installing-win11-24h2.1725554/post-30126081


https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-windows-11-24h2-update.1718749/post-30159638


https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...-windows-11-24h2-update.1718749/post-30062333





A user has come up with another possible workaround


https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/24h2-w11-update-issue-found-no-more-crashes.1728373/


Some affected users have definitely seen that help them with this issue. Do try this first as it has a decent record of success!





Also make sure your Nvidia driver is the latest.





And if nothing else helps, switch the renderer to Vulkan in the launcher-game settings menu - performance will likely be worse but users are reporting it stops the PC freezes!