Stellaris Game Pass CTD at Launch, 0% Loading

[Spectre009]

I am consistently experiencing a crash when starting the game - I've tried everything I've seen in other threads related to this type of issue, including:

- Updated NVIDIA graphics driver
- Borderless, Windowed (also tried different resolutions)
- Verify Game Installation files, reinstall, restart, running from Explorer instead of launcher, etc.

I do use Windows Defender, but fairly certain it is not an issue - the game has worked before (although that was a couple of months ago) with it on and have also tried running the game with it disabled. Even tried the distributable installation suggestions here at another recent thread.

Still getting the same launch error though, so I'm at a loss on what to do and can't figure out why it randomly worked yesterday then went right back to crashing today. I have attached all relevant logs (that aren't empty) based on previous threads, including DXDiag.

I do have 2 drives, got the game installed on the secondary D: (though it had originally been on C:, transferred it to make some room). When the game was working yesterday, it was with the installation on D drive so not sure if that's relevant. My laptop (which obviously has some different specs but also doesn't have a 2nd drive) can run the Game Pass game, but I'd much rather get it working on my desktop.

Any kind of help would be much appreciated.

 

[AndrewT]

Just to be clear, are you saying the game runs fine when installed on D: but not on C: ? Because that would be very weird.

In any case, please go here:

Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads

This article lists the download links for the latest versions of Visual C++ Redistributable packages.

support.microsoft.com

And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

Does that help?

 

[Spectre009]

Unfortunately, no luck there I'm afraid - did a repair using both of those installers, restarted once for each one and got the same crash. Would it have been better to uninstall entirely then re-install with the same installer?

And to clarify, game was installed on this machine's C drive (never seen this crash while it was on there) until not too long ago when I tried to shift it to D. The D installation has always failed with the exception of yesterday when it the game actually loaded for a few hours then returned to the original crash once I tried to play it today. I can't fathom what caused it to suddenly start working yesterday except for maybe an Xbox/Game Pass app update.

 

[AndrewT]

I believe there was an update/fix tp the MS game app in the last day or two, that might have done it.

I'm still not 100% clear - it now fails off C: and D: ?

Can you get to the folder MS installed the game in, or is that locked down too hard?

 

[Spectre009]

On D:, I am fairly certain I see the installation folder - D:\XboxGames\Stellaris\Content (all my DLC appears in folders on the same level as the 'Stellaris' one) and, combing through my other folders for Paradox stuff I see that there's also what appears to be an identical folder in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ParadoxInteractive.Stellaris-MicrosoftStoreEdition_3.3.298.0_x64__zfnrdv2de78ny

Seems odd to me that there's 2 different places for it, but I'm somewhat certain that using the 'Remove Apps' in Windows will remove both of these sets of Stellaris folders.

There is also a D:\WindowsApps\ParadoxInteractive.Stellaris-MicrosoftStoreEdition_3.3.298.0_x64__zfnrdv2de78ny , but that one was a bit harder to get to and was locked. Fiddling with the Security settings in properties let me view it finally, and does also appear to be identical to the C: version above.

For good measure, I just tried launching each of the stellaris.exe in the 3 locations above - all of them crash in the same spot, as soon as the loading starts.

 

[AndrewT]

Do make sure all those stellaris.exe files are in the Windows Defender Ransomware Controlled Folder Access Apps Allowed Through list.

Failing that I rankly have no idea what is causing this to you. If you make a new Windows user, log into Windows as that, does it still happen?

 

[Spectre009]

Darn... no luck there either, I'm afraid. New user on the machine, had to re-install the app, and same crash even after that.

Regarding Windows Defender, I had ransomware control showing as off, but tried turning it on and ran it just in case. It did show that the D: exe was blocked, so I allowed it through, but same failure still.

So frustrating... but if you don't have any other ideas, I suppose I may just have to wait for another Xbox app update. Thanks for investigating anyhow! If there's any other logs I can provide or if you think of any other leads, let me know.