Unable to launch Stellaris from Launcher via Steam even after tech support help

[the_atm]

I posted this in the wrong forum first time around. Sorry

The past hour I've been trying to launch Stellaris from the launcher and I'm getting no where. Every time the launcher pops up, I click play and it says "unable to launch game." and that's it. I have:

• restarted the launcher
• removed all mods
• checked DLC to make sure it's all installed
• verified cache
• uninstalled and reinstalled on HDD
• uninstalled and reinstalled on SSD
• Verified cache on SSD
• opted in to beta
• opted out of beta
• restarted computer

I thought maybe it's a Paradox launcher issue? I installed CK3, Age of Wonders Planetfall and HOI4 and no issues launching the games, they all launched perfectly. I'm at a loss here as to what to do. I even tried just launching the .exe file and it hangs on an infinite black loading screen.

Someone posted a reply from a dev/tech about deleting files and such, I did that, and now when I launch Stellaris it tells me that something went wrong while updating the launcher. So... I'm still stuck.

EDIT: I tried launching anyways and now the game launches... but hangs on the black screen, while music plays.

 

[MordridBlack]

Is this through Steam? GOG? Microsoft Store?

The reason I ask is because there are different steps to take for each "platform"


A follow up, and much more important question is, has this pc ever been able to run Stellaris?

 

[AndrewT]

As the launcher worked for the other games it cannot have been your problem, so there was no need to delete its files.


I assume if you run stellaris.exe directly from File Explorer it also fails? If so Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere, and user_empire_designs.txt from /Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/ if you have made any custom empires or races.
- "uninstall" in Steam-Stellaris
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/Stellaris AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add stellaris.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.
- start the game with no mods active and test

In particular you need to make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam Stellaris or Documents Stellaris locations, before installing again.

Also if you have FRAPS or the MSI Gaming App or Rivatuner installed, disable it as it clashes with this game.

If that doesn'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.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/settings.txt and pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log .

 

[the_atm]

As the launcher worked for the other games it cannot have been your problem, so there was no need to delete its files.


I assume if you run stellaris.exe directly from File Explorer it also fails? If so Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere, and user_empire_designs.txt from /Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/ if you have made any custom empires or races.
- "uninstall" in Steam-Stellaris
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/Stellaris AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add stellaris.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.
- start the game with no mods active and test

In particular you need to make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam Stellaris or Documents Stellaris locations, before installing again.

Also if you have FRAPS or the MSI Gaming App or Rivatuner installed, disable it as it clashes with this game.

If that doesn'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.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/settings.txt and pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log .

Deleting the files in steamapps/common and the documents folder did the trick! Thankyou!