Unable to launch the launcher. Game does not start

[Ratbert]

Hi

I have been playing CK3 for the past few months and had stopped for a while due to work commitments. When I tried launching again from Steam, the launcher does not start. When I started the launcher (v2) manually, it could not find the game and had an option for me to choose the directory. After clicking it, it reads "games. This file doesn't exist. Create the file?" No matter what I choose, the next error pops out "General Error. There's no installed game in the selected directory.

I have done all the below with no issues but it does not resolve the above issue:

1) Updated Windows and all drivers
2) Updated Steam, Paradox Launcher (v2) and CK3
3) Verified game integrity
4) Re-installed CK3

I have tried to launch it directly with the file "dowser.exe" found in Drive/SteamLibrary/Steamapps/common/Crusader Kings III/launcher. The launcher (v2) could run but showed an error message "Steam runtime communication error". I understand that choosing to ignore it would mean I cannot save it online.

I do not own or use any mods and my PC is more than capable to run the game. Does anyone have the same issue? Is there a fix or am I missing something? Please help!

 

[AndrewT]

Note that reinstalling the game, or running Steam verify, does not touch the launcher - it is a separate app that Steam knows nothing about.


What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer? That byapsses Steam and the launcher.

in this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

 

[Ratbert]

Note that reinstalling the game, or running Steam verify, does not touch the launcher - it is a separate app that Steam knows nothing about.


What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer? That byapsses Steam and the launcher.

in this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

I see. I am able to run ck3.exe directly. I have attached the logs below.

 

[AndrewT]

I don't see any problem in those log files, but they go back to 2023 so let's do a clean reinstall of the launcher:

- uninstall Paradox Launcher v2 from the Windows "Apps and features" utility, if still present.

Delete the following folders if still present:

- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/
- C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Roaming/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.

Install the launcher from here:

https://launcher.paradoxinteractive.com/v2/paradox-launcher-installer-windows

- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam

Does that help?

 

[Ratbert]

I have done all of the above but it still does not run.

 

[AndrewT]

Can i get new launcher logs please, thanks.

Then, please make a new Windows user profile on this PC and try the launcher/game under that. Any different?

 

[Ratbert]

Can i get new launcher logs please, thanks.

Then, please make a new Windows user profile on this PC and try the launcher/game under that. Any different?

here you go!

 

[AndrewT]

I don't see any errors in any of those logs.

Did you try under a new Windows user profile, as I suggested?

 

[Ratbert]

Oh. I did not create a new Windows user profile but all 3 of my PCs have the same problem so I am guessing it may not be a profile problem. Could it?

Also if I created a new profile, does that mean I need to log in as a different user each time I want to play CK3?

 

[AndrewT]

On all 3 PCs the launcher fails to start after hitting PLAY in Steam, is that right? If so I have no real explanation for that. No point in making a new Windows user profile on one of them, I don't think.

Do you perhaps use the same antivirus app on all 3? If so maybe that is getting in the way somehow.

 

[Ratbert]

Yes, all 3 PCs have the same problem. I am using Sophos X on all 3. Not sure if it is related.

 

[AndrewT]

Yes, all 3 PCs have the same problem. I am using Sophos X on all 3. Not sure if it is related.

The latest CK3 version 1.14.3 has triggered false positives in Avast and Norton's , at least. I don't know Sophos at all but make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

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

 

[Ratbert]

The latest CK3 version 1.14.3 has triggered false positives in Avast and Norton's , at least. I don't know Sophos at all but make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

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

It worked! I added the files in the exception list and restarted my computer and it worked. Thank you very much!

 

[AndrewT]

Okay, that's 4 AV apps for certain so far! Not sure I've ever seen that before with any game.

 

[Ratbert]

Okay, that's 4 AV apps for certain so far! Not sure I've ever seen that before with any game.

Haha. I think I spoke too soon. The launcher came up alright. But after pressing play, the launcher disappeared and nothing happened. So kind of back at square one.

 

[AndrewT]

Haha. I think I spoke too soon. The launcher came up alright. But after pressing play, the launcher disappeared and nothing happened. So kind of back at square one.

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer? That bypasses Steam and the launcher.

It worked! I added the files in the exception list and restarted my computer and it worked. Thank you very much!

When you said it worked here, was that then just the launcher not the game? Or the game did work, but then subsequently failed again?

 

[Ratbert]

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer? That bypasses Steam and the launcher.


When you said it worked here, was that then just the launcher not the game? Or the game did work, but then subsequently failed again?

I can still run ck3.exe from the binaries folder.
When I said it worked, I meant that the launcher appeared and it had the options "Resume" and "Play". These are the normal options available when I could still run the game through the launcher. This time, after I pressed either option ("Resume" or "Play"), the launcher closed but the game did not launch.

 

[AndrewT]

So you can run ck3.exe but the launcher can't ... !

Can i get new copies of those launcher logs please, since the 2025.3 update recently.

 

[Ratbert]

So you can run ck3.exe but the launcher can't ... !

Can i get new copies of those launcher logs please, since the 2025.3 update recently.

My launcher doesn't update itself. Do I need to re-do the steps to install the new launcher first?

 

[AndrewT]

It should install itself, but needs a restart. Does it not show 2025.3 yet?

If not, new launcher log splease.