The game appears to have crashed or terminated unexpectedly (exit code null) on CR3

[nostalilouu]

Hello, I just bought Crusader Kings 3 and have this error message when I want to run the game. I tried everything like
disable antivirus
run the game from files explorer
uninstall reinstall
disable fullScreen optimisations
select fullScreen display mode, Vsync off, cap refresh rate at 60
select windowed mode
open the game with other windows user

Thanks for help

 

[AndrewT]

Exit code null means the launcher did not even attempt to start the game, for some reason.


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

steam.exe
ck3.exe (in the Steam CK3/binaries folder)
dowser.exe (in the Steam CK3/launcher folder)
C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2025.2/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

If that doesn't help, what happens if you run ck3.exe directly from file explorer? That bypasses Steam and our launcher.

 

[nostalilouu]

Just try and now my launcher can run the game thank you! But when i try to run the game, it crash after the "Initializing" loading screen. Same thing when i run the game with file explorer

 

[AndrewT]

Right click on ck3.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/CK3/pdx_settings.txt .


From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log , exceptions.txt

 

[nostalilouu]

the game crashed again after the loading screen, i dont have the "exception.txt" and "system.log" is empty.