Enemy Within not Launching

[Khan, Binary of None]

I've done all the normal recommendations, fresh install, run the .exe, dozens of google results and searching through here. Nothing anyone has suggested within the last few months seems to even work.

The game wouldn't even launch, it would start, then stop.

I renamed the XEW folder to XCom-Enemy-Unknown and I was able to launch the game (but only by running the .exe).
Turns out this only runs Enemy Unknown and not Enemy Within, despite using Enemy Within's .exe launcher.

The launcher.exe doesn't even pull up a launcher, it just boots up Enemy Unknown.

I don't get how a decade old game like this could become so broken despite very little changing.

I'm about to say **** it and install it on my Steam Deck and see if it at least runs there, knowing my luck it won't.

[Just me n my pc...]

There was even an Android version at one time.

[talemore]

He can't get the launcher starting.

Rename the XEW meant you broke the DLC which meant the game couldn't find the dlc and started enemy unknown.

If I recall the Dlc exe should be inside XEW

[Khan, Binary of None]

Originally posted by talemore:

He can't get the launcher starting.

Rename the XEW meant you broke the DLC which meant the game couldn't find the dlc and started enemy unknown.

If I recall the Dlc exe should be inside XEW

It does nothing. If I leave the folder as is, the launcher shows I'm playing on Steam for 2 seconds before closing. It doesn't even visibly open anything. Same goes for the .exe. Renaming the folder was the only way I could launch the game but it only does EU.

I've fully redownloaded the game and it continues. It works on my steam deck just fine, but my PC is always missing two files during verify and never downloads them.

[Plake]

Originally posted by Khan, Binary of None:

Originally posted by talemore:

He can't get the launcher starting.

Rename the XEW meant you broke the DLC which meant the game couldn't find the dlc and started enemy unknown.

If I recall the Dlc exe should be inside XEW

It does nothing. If I leave the folder as is, the launcher shows I'm playing on Steam for 2 seconds before closing. It doesn't even visibly open anything. Same goes for the .exe. Renaming the folder was the only way I could launch the game but it only does EU.

I've fully redownloaded the game and it continues. It works on my steam deck just fine, but my PC is always missing two files during verify and never downloads them.

This happened to me when EW was just released, while I did not have the (full) game installed on C: (had it on D:), is thar the case with your setup?

[Khan, Binary of None]

Yeah I've got it on my HDD as opposed to my SSD because of space. It's not huge so I could move it and be fine but lots of SSD required games need tons of space.

[Aizuki]

previously after i download the game, i cant launch the game. but when i validate the game ... some file are not yet downloaded (potentially c++ redist thing)

[Saint Domingo]

You still having issues with this?

[Flat White]

I've got the same problem, game simply doesn't launch. I tried to reinstalled to another disc (previosly installed on D, now on C). Tried open it with admin rights, validate files, faultrep.dll etc - nothing seems to work :/

[zeeboman]

same issue, system just reboots after several minutes.

[Stardustfire]

sounds a little like a problem with user rights on the "my documents" folder. admin rights? no onedrive sync on that folder?
games are not happy when they cant read/write at the config files in that folder or when the folder content is in limbo because onedrive syncs it.

[simonhobnob]

Also, just to query... as this might cause issues with validation. You have told your firewall to allow the launcher to access the net. Right?

[Saint Domingo]

I have just posted a potential fix in the discussions. Check for it.

[MrSaturdayNite]

Have you tried this?
https://steamcommunity.com/app/200510/discussions/0/648811852226640080/?ctp=179#c3770110614227040391

[Vinz Clortho]

1. Install the game with EW DLC.
2. Right click - Properties - Installed Files - Browse
3. Go into folder "XEW" select everything in there and right click "cut"
4. Go back into folder XCom-Enemy-Unknown and right click "paste"
5. When it asks you what to do with the conflicting file names, choose "replace"
6. Go into folder Binaries - Win32
7. Delete the .exe with blue logo called "XComGame"
8. Rename the .exe with yellow logo called "XEW" to "XComGame"
9. The yellow logo turns blue
10. Go back into your library and run XCOM EU from there as normal.

XCOM EW will start.

[ShaggySchmacky]

I’ve had this problem for ages. Unicrons solution worked! Thanks! Its probably a launcher conflict that looks for XcomGame.exe and yet finds 2 (one in EW and one in EU). His solution resolves the conflict and “tricks” the game into launching EW