How to actually get F.E.A.R. 3 to launch (it's an update lottery, made a video, worth seeing until end)

[crowbars82]

Hopefully this video link is allowed to be posted here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X5rmnCTDrCiAvSAZpz1mSkvt6pWng6Bk/view

In this video I accidentally find the fix at the start, but then uninstall to show how it doesn't work the first time, but then eventually does work.

It is a case of manually deleting all the files in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\F.E.A.R. 3

(you can leave the folders "redist" and "resources")

Then validating the files so Steam re-downloads them all, but then what you must do is run the "F.E.A.R. 3.exe" from within the folder, NOT running through Steam.

This may or may not trigger Steam to update the EXE to the proper version, but you can see in my video how random this is.

Just keep mashing double-clicks on the "F.E.A.R. 3.exe" directly in the folder, and eventually Steam should trigger the EXE update. Hopefully.

Hope this helps for Windows 10 as well, I am on Windows 11.

[crowbars82]

I am hosting this video on Google Drive, and it doesn't play when using Brave Browser, so you'll have to you Chrome or something (or enable auto-play-videos in Brave)

[AkisN]

How to fix the fear3 not launch in 2024 :

https://steamcommunity.com/app/21100/discussions/0/599638390296576974/?tscn=1734972671

[crowbars82]

Originally posted by AkisN:

How to fix the fear3 not launch in 2024 :

https://steamcommunity.com/app/21100/discussions/0/599638390296576974/?tscn=1734972671

Turns out you don't actually have to put the "steamclient64.dll" into the folder, the download of the update it literally random, which I found in the video I made.

[bullettrain101]

Holy crap it worked! I can't believe it! Thank you so much!

[crowbars82]

Originally posted by bullettrain101:

Holy crap it worked! I can't believe it! Thank you so much!

Hey, you're very welcome. Just out of interest... was it random for you too? Like, did you too delete all files, validate, then hope it worked by running the EXE in the folder?

It's such a weird situation this one, I'd love to be able to say "this is the exact fix here" but I don't think there is one :D

[Shanks]

Thanks for your help! I was having issues too, and yes, it appears to be random.

I deleted all files from my local files and then verified the file integrity through Steam.

Steam reinstalled all files and then I tried launching the game through my local files and that did not work.

I then pressed the play button through Steam about 3 times and magically the executable actually updated.

As you said, mash the executable or play button until Steam decides to update the executable.

[IndianaDucky]

This issue is happening to Aliens Vs Predator 2010 and ACM. I'm still trying to get this game to work on Steam OS. I has a old install that worked great a few days ago and these new installs get stuck at Updating EXE.

Steam broke a lot of games recently.

[andrey-t]

The easy method that worked for me is:

Go to your Steam game folder "<whaterver>/F.E.A.R. 3". Right-click "F.E.A.R. 3.exe" and select "Run as administrator" from the context menu.

This should successfully launch the game. You only need to do it once. After that the game will launch normally through steam.

[Nobelissimos]

None of these worked for me. Starting as admin creates a new "fear 3 STEAMSTART" file in the folder but that's it.

Had this issue with AvP 2010 as well.

Don't see any solid info on wtf is going on cause theres a ton of games across steam with this issue.

[Nobelissimos]

Saw on another game having this same issue that someone suggested having the game installed on the same drive as your OS (C drive). I moved my game from my D drive to my C drive and it worked after pressing play a few times.

[andrey-t]

My game is installed on E drive. I didn't have to move it to C. As I stated above, running it once as an administrator fixed the problem. In my case, it works fine from E now.

[Grandma Death]

I just manually opened the folder, in the directory and ran the redistributable file myself and it worked, don't expect steam to do it for you.

verifying and all did nothing just manually open the folder containing the vc redistributable

[¤07¤ VeteransdeFrance (math's)]

POUR LES FRANCAIS ( france )
vous avez juste a ouvrir le dossier ou votre jeu est installer , ensuite lancer le DIRECT X pour installer le pilote sinon cela ne fonctionnera pas sous WIN 10 ! . une fois l'installe terminer le lancer une 1er fois avec le luncher du jeu et ensuite vous pourrez le lancer via steam directement .