Refusing to Launch

[BankAngle]

I can't be the only person having this issue, but I haven't seen much about it... The game is basically refusing to launch, try from the shortcut, try from Steam, the Launcher pops up and starts to load as if its going to.... then nothing... the icon just spins.

You can stop the game from steam, or terminate it from the task manager, and try again, and 9 out of 10 times itll refuse to launch... at this point I can spend 20 minutes fighting the damn game just to launch at times.. what gives?

*Just to add, it wasn't always like this... only maybe in the last few weeks at most..

[Grimmsch]

My first guess would be an Easy Anti-Cheat or Denuvo issue. Since you mentioned it started in the last few weeks, it's probably Denuvo since they just added it on May 19th.

Try to whitelist Denuvo in Windows Defender and allow it through the Firewall.

[Тык Тык]

Originally posted by BankAngle:

I can't be the only person having this issue, but I haven't seen much about it... The game is basically refusing to launch, try from the shortcut, try from Steam, the Launcher pops up and starts to load as if its going to.... then nothing... the icon just spins.

You can stop the game from steam, or terminate it from the task manager, and try again, and 9 out of 10 times itll refuse to launch... at this point I can spend 20 minutes fighting the damn game just to launch at times.. what gives?

*Just to add, it wasn't always like this... only maybe in the last few weeks at most..

А где вы живете?

[BankAngle]

Originally posted by Grimmsch:

My first guess would be an Easy Anti-Cheat or Denuvo issue. Since you mentioned it started in the last few weeks, it's probably Denuvo since they just added it on May 19th.

Try to whitelist Denuvo in Windows Defender and allow it through the Firewall.

Hey Grimmsch, thanks for the suggestion, I gave that a shot as I was unaware it was added, alas this did not fix the issue...

[Grimmsch]

Originally posted by BankAngle:

Originally posted by Grimmsch:

My first guess would be an Easy Anti-Cheat or Denuvo issue. Since you mentioned it started in the last few weeks, it's probably Denuvo since they just added it on May 19th.

Try to whitelist Denuvo in Windows Defender and allow it through the Firewall.

Hey Grimmsch, thanks for the suggestion, I gave that a shot as I was unaware it was added, alas this did not fix the issue...

Damn. I still believe it is the culprit. I call for AI support:

Step 1 — Set the correct Steam launch option (most likely fix)
This directly addresses the Denuvo anti-cheat not starting properly. Go to Steam launch options and point Steam directly to the Denuvo exe. Right-click the game in Steam → Properties → General → Launch Options, then paste in:

If installed on C:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARC Raiders\PioneerGame\Binaries\Win64\PioneerGame-d.exe" %command%

If installed on D: "D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\ARCRaiders\PioneerGame\Binaries\Win64\PioneerGame-d.exe" %command%

Double-check the path matches your actual install location.
After launching, open Task Manager and check the Processes tab to confirm the anti-cheat has successfully started, then wait for shader compilation to finish on the main menu.

Why ?
Since Denuvo was added, there's a wrapper executable (PioneerGame-d.exe, the "d" standing for Denuvo) that needs to initialize first for the anti-cheat to load properly.
What that launch option does is tell Steam to use that specific exe as the entry point instead of whatever it defaults to. The %command% at the end just means "and pass along any other Steam arguments as normal" - it's standard syntax for Steam launch options.

[Zzzz341]

Same issue, started after the announcement of the latest patch, alongside the framerate issues. Tried launching several times, before the game loads properly.

[BankAngle]

Originally posted by Grimmsch:

snip

Thanks again Grimmsch, I gave your second idea a try, still didn't work for me, oddly, Steam cannot find the specified Path to the install, which is on my D drive, I double then triple checked the pathway and had it correct... not sure what the deal is, but Its not my first day on a computer. Or maybe it is. I dont know anymore.

edit* Removing %command% from the directory allows steam to find it, but Arc Raiders still refuses to boot. Ive had to do that before on various other games from time to time, but seems like there is more going on here.

[Grimmsch]

Originally posted by BankAngle:

Originally posted by Grimmsch:

snip

Thanks again Grimmsch, I gave your second idea a try, still didn't work for me, oddly, Steam cannot find the specified Path to the install, which is on my D drive, I double then triple checked the pathway and had it correct... not sure what the deal is, but Its not my first day on a computer. Or maybe it is. I dont know anymore.

If the wrapper is not there you are not part of the Denuvo rollout, so we can ignore that.

[BankAngle]

Originally posted by Grimmsch:

Originally posted by BankAngle:

Thanks again Grimmsch, I gave your second idea a try, still didn't work for me, oddly, Steam cannot find the specified Path to the install, which is on my D drive, I double then triple checked the pathway and had it correct... not sure what the deal is, but Its not my first day on a computer. Or maybe it is. I dont know anymore.

If the wrapper is not there you are not part of the Denuvo rollout, so we can ignore that.

No, they are both there, the D file and E file, sorry, it was having %command% at the end of the directory was messing it up, nevertheless having it directed to the D file still causes it to fail to boot.

[Grimmsch]

I feel you. This is frustrating.

[BankAngle]

Originally posted by Grimmsch:

I feel you. This is frustrating.

Electronics, they can be that way sometimes, its not my first rodeo with programs that refuse to work for one reason or another.. usually its something stupid simple, I appreciate your help regardless.

[JiMMo]

Same here

[Sn4pFPS]

same i have to close whit task manager and try again until it start

[Zert]

I crash several times, but I can start the game everytime after I do the following:
In steam right click ARC RAIDERS
Properties
3rd option: installed files
then last option: check files for errors

close the game first, its about 618 files and takes less then 1 minute, after that the game starts.

But it will keep crashing

[🆅-🆂🅾🅰🆁]

Besides what Grimmsch suggested I'd like to add the following, as I've had this error as well previously and what Fixed it for me was to completely manually remove Easy-Anti cheat (every instance of it, can be installed in multiple locations simultaneously).

You can ask your preferred Ai for instructions on where on your PC it is installed and delete it.
Once you do this, ON steam Validate Game files and it will download and install the latest version of Easy anti cheat.
Restart your PC (might have to do this twice) and Launch the game (restart PC if it fails)

Good luck!

[Alex Blues! Pesquisando O.V.N.I.]

>>>>> From BRAZIL <<<<
ARC RAIDERS IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL THANKS TO DENUVO

Embark, what an absolute, monumental act of stupidity. Your game was actually doing well, the momentum was there, and you completely ruined it. Adding Denuvo Anti-Cheat into the game kernel has broken the entire launcher.

Just look at the community hubs: endless loading screens, "PioneerGame-d.exe" crashing constantly, and paying players completely locked out of the game. I already made one video exposing this mess, and I am making another one right now to make sure everyone skips this garbage until you rip this trash out of our systems.

You replaced actual optimization and server-side fixes with a parasitic, invasive background service that breaks game stability and kills performance. Massive thumbs down. Fix your game or watch your player base drop to zero.