Rockstar Games Launcher failed to initialize

[Nyx ツ]

So, because this game was on sale, I decided to buy it. I have already owned GTA 5 and had the dogwater Rockstar Games Launcher installed, however, now, whenever I open the Rockstar Games Launcher, it just tells me "Failed to initialize" (Without any error code, or even mention of this in the error log). I've truly tried everything, verifying the game integrity (I doubt it's gta 4's fault), reinstalling the launcher several times, checking compatibility mode, deleting various files and folders, installing redistributables and even DISM.exe, CHDSK and SFC. Nothing has worked so far. I don't know what I'm missing. If I don't find any solution, I'm probably going to just refund, because this situation is way more than frustrating.

[Yujah]

Try a clean reinstall of the RGL, that is, including deleting local configuration: https://support.rockstargames.com/articles/16957180429203/How-to-perform-a-clean-install-of-the-Rockstar-Games-Launcher

[Nyx ツ]

Sadly, no change. Still the same error

[Yujah]

Mmm. Can deny anything being generally wrong -- and in that sense, is it perhaps the case that you run/ran GTA5 in some kind of compatibility mode? I.e., this sounds promising:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandTheftAutoV/comments/1af3zrt/comment/kyqvj9z/

Hi guys. The following method worked for me

1. Make sure to verify the game files on Steam first (or do a fresh install)
2. Uninstall rockstar launcher and social club
3. Download a fresh version of rockstar launcher from their official site
4. Once installed, browse the file location of the Rockstar Launcher and look for the files Launcher and LauncherPatcher(?) executables
5. For both files, right click then click properties, then under Compatibility tab:
- uncheck Run in Compatibility mode (mine was running on windows 7 mode),
- then check Run as Administrator, then click apply

After that Rockstar finally launched and updated itself. It may have something to do with the withdrawal of support for W7/8. I'm using Windows 11 but have been running some games on Windows 7 compatibility mode including RDR2 and GTAV.

(that location it's speaking of is %PROGRAMFILES%\Rockstar Games\Launcher)

[Nyx ツ]

One interesting thing I noticed is that it doesn't create a social club folder. I see it installed as "Rockstar SDK" and even the setup is named that way, but it doesn't create any folder

[Yujah]

Have you checked/tried 4 and 5 from the above?

[Nyx ツ]

I've tried checking, but it isn't in any compatibility mode or read only, I even tried running everything as an administrator but sadly, still no luck. Rockstar responded to my ticket today and they said that "They have probably found my issue and are planning to release it in the next release of the title"

[Nyx ツ]

Originally posted by Yujah:

Have you checked/tried 4 and 5 from the above?

Yep

[Yujah]

OK. Sort of doubt they will (since it works fine for most...) -- but OK :)

[Nyx ツ]

You can never be sure with Rockstar

[Yujah]

If you decide to wait rather than refund: be sure to once you have it working limit the game to at most 60 FPS, or install FusionFix, or best install FusionFix and limit to at most 60 FPS (which you can then do via the frame-limiter FusionFix adds to the game's graphics options). Great game...

https://github.com/ThirteenAG/GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix
https://github.com/GTAmodding/GTAIV-Issues-List/issues/112

[Nyx ツ]

Thanks. I'm really confused as to why this is happening. It did work before with GTA 5, I don't know why it stopped working now. I'll try again, you never know