New Launcher

[Warshak]

Game does not load from new launcher. No mods. WTH.

[Bri]

all over the internet dude. I'm not sure what the point of you adding to this discussion is. If this issue doesn't affect you directly, then i don't think you can comment on it without understanding what it going on at the moment. Threads on steam, paradox, redditt- forums everywhere. Pretty well known problem at the moment

[MonkehMaster]

Originally posted by brittle_rose:

all over the internet dude. I'm not sure what the point of you adding to this discussion is. If this issue doesn't affect you directly, then i don't think you can comment on it without understanding what it going on at the moment. Threads on steam, paradox, redditt- forums everywhere. Pretty well known problem at the moment

as is bypassing the launcher, ie... if the launcher is causing a problem, then not using the launcher (aka bypassing it) should resolve the problem.

if the problem persists after bypassing the launcher, then obviously the launcher wasnt the problem, ie... you have a problem on your end...

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running win 10/11? verify the game files through steam...

all your vc runtimes installed and updated? google "majorgeeks", click the link, use search in top of page and type "all in one runtime installer", download the v56 version, run the program and it will install all currently used vc++ runtimes, then run windows update or driver booster from iobit (ignore any gpu drivers from either, as those are to be only downloaded from manufacturer.

running latest version of net framework and desktop runtime 5? google net framework 4.8.1 then download it and install, same for desktop runtime 5, download its latest version and install it.

direct x installed and running properly? make sure you have all the direct x version installed and running properly, you can be sure by googling 9/10/11/12 and trying to reinstall them.

are all your windows updates properly installed? you can check that...

---------------

pro tip, programs like driver booster are very much a go to for keeping every driver on your pc up to date, but like mentioned ignore any driver for your gpu, those you should only get from the manufacturer of that gpu.

anything beyond that, is a whole other story and like i said, if the launcher was the issue, then not using it would solve the issue and if the issue persists after bypassing the launcher, then the issue is on your end.

this is all common sense and thats why i provide a launcher bypass guide.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2178348719

[Bri]

I'm unsure if the issue is the launcher specifically, after updating the game/launcher, that is when so many (including me) could no longer play the game. None of us know what else to do, because we did not have this issue until the game update. A game update, and a launcher update happened at the exact same time.

I could not tell you if it is the launcher or not. Just that the game is not working for a ton of people after the updates. I has already done as you have asked many times- and it did not change the issue.

So maybe the issue is not the launcher itself, if i knew- then i would probably know how to fix the issue.

[Akazie_Christi]

Had the issue with another paradox game. In this case, I'm lucky and it works. Blaming the customer is easy development. Respect to the programmers. We broke your game? Your printer driver at the holiday house may be outdated.

[Bri]

Everything is up to date, so that's not the issue. If anyone has any idea of why a game won't open on an up to date mac computer, that is not an old model, and the game is also mac compatible- please let me know.

This post is meant to get feedback on what might be the issue so i can fix it. Not placing blame on an individual.

Unfortunate that we can't have a thread without people being disrespectful.

Literally just trying to figure out the issue- because it's an issue alot of people are having.

[Bri]

And reaching out to the developers customer service was unhelpful

[Essedus]

So I woke up at 3 this morning, couldn't get back to sleep. I've spent the last 4 hours doing some trouble shooting because I also had an itch to play this. The game in my case the PC would hard lock and become completely unresponsive when I tried to launch the game from steam. I had to physically hold the power button to kill it. I've since fixed the problem for myself, my findings MIGHT help others.

For starters, MonkehMaster's guide for running the game without the launcher works. The game will not launch directly from the exe though, attempting to do so makes it run briefly and crashes to desktop with no error message. It does however run from the steam launcher but does not open the paradox one, if you have followed his instructions. I have no idea why it works from steam after implementing his changes but not the executable. Removing any of the paradox launcher files will force it to redownload them. If it is unable to obtain the launcher files the game will not launch and tell you to validate.

I also run COMODO firewall, and after much trial and error discovered it was COMODO that was causing the game to hard lock my PC because it wasn't allowing something in executable to do its thing. With COMODO off the game runs just fine. I spent the next few hours disabling the exe's access to certain things one by one, but was unable to get it lock the system again. Eventually I found that the exe was being auto quarantined at the moment of launch before it has a chance to really take any action, but I've been unable to determine why it is being flagged.

TLDR:
Try explicitly trusting "Prison Architect64.exe" if you're using a firewall or any kind of antivirus.


On an entirely unrelated note. The game has a weird fascination with needlessly phoning home constantly, for no apparent reason.

[GrimzKiller]

Originally posted by brittle_rose:

PRISON ARCHITECT IS BROKEN. DO NOT BUY FOR NOW

Just a kind suggestion for those considering a new dlc, or this game in general.

After updating the paradox launcher/free updates for Prison Architect, this game is currently unplayable for many- including myself.

Ironically, the updates were supposedly meant to prevent crashing issues, only to cause crashing issues that many people did not already have.

I have reached out on steam discussion boards, and also paradox directly. Forums are filing up with people having this exact same issue all over the interwebs, and at the moment, paradox is not very concerned or motivated to fix it.

Deleting the application folder, logs, and reinstalling on both steam and paradox has done nothing for me. I have also been told my one year old computer with non-outdated software is too out of date. Or that the problem, was somehow me :D

I had no issues, on my computer, until downloading their updates. Also, i have no mods installed.

When this game will be playable again for many of us is unknown. I do not recommend purchasing until the fix the game- which hopefully will become a priority at some point.

play the 2018 version, without launcher and dlcs, it also able to run mods as i have been able to

[GrimzKiller]

"If you right click on your game in the Steam library and go to properties -> betas then you can roll their game back to the 2018 that IV left it as or to the initial 2015 release version."

ive been running about 4-8 mods simultaneously, theres not much difference i think, but it a better option until they fix this buggy dlc mess

[yrmp]

So I had trouble launching the game today, and I tried running it directly from the .exe. That didn't allow me to use the mods, so I uninstalled the game through steam, and then I deleted the "Prison Architect" folder from C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ (your directory may vary depending on your PC's filesystem)

I was getting a missing dowser.exe error. I think the issue had something to do with directory permissions, because verifying game file integrity, and any other action taken through steam didn't fix the issue.

That said, prisoners can still roam freely after they finish eating or showering because :clownemoji: so the 2018 version is the last functioning version of the game. I spent money on DLCs and then the underlying mechanism of the game changed out from under me. 1000+ hours played. Thanks Paradox.

[yrmp]

Originally posted by YRMP:

So I had trouble launching the game today, and I tried running it directly from the .exe. That didn't allow me to use the DLCs that I've purchased, so I uninstalled the game through steam, and then I deleted the "Prison Architect" folder from C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ (your directory may vary depending on your PC's filesystem)

I was getting a missing dowser.exe error. I think the issue had something to do with directory permissions, because verifying game file integrity, and any other action taken through steam didn't fix the issue.

That said, prisoners can still roam freely after they finish eating or showering because :clownemoji: so the 2018 version is the last functioning version of the game. I spent money on DLCs and then the underlying mechanism of the game changed out from under me. 1000+ hours played. Thanks Paradox.

[Lynn]

Um, @YRMP, I don't know what you were actually going for, but you just quoted yourself, and to make matters that much worse, without adding any additional information or commentary. ...Plus, there is no context around the "can still roam freely" part, and you are assuming people know what you are talking about. But I respect your situation, as a 1000+ player. Just trying to be helpful.

[Bri]

Originally posted by (PG) Essedus:

So I woke up at 3 this morning, couldn't get back to sleep. I've spent the last 4 hours doing some trouble shooting because I also had an itch to play this. The game in my case the PC would hard lock and become completely unresponsive when I tried to launch the game from steam. I had to physically hold the power button to kill it. I've since fixed the problem for myself, my findings MIGHT help others.

For starters, MonkehMaster's guide for running the game without the launcher works. The game will not launch directly from the exe though, attempting to do so makes it run briefly and crashes to desktop with no error message. It does however run from the steam launcher but does not open the paradox one, if you have followed his instructions. I have no idea why it works from steam after implementing his changes but not the executable. Removing any of the paradox launcher files will force it to redownload them. If it is unable to obtain the launcher files the game will not launch and tell you to validate.

I also run COMODO firewall, and after much trial and error discovered it was COMODO that was causing the game to hard lock my PC because it wasn't allowing something in executable to do its thing. With COMODO off the game runs just fine. I spent the next few hours disabling the exe's access to certain things one by one, but was unable to get it lock the system again. Eventually I found that the exe was being auto quarantined at the moment of launch before it has a chance to really take any action, but I've been unable to determine why it is being flagged.

TLDR:
Try explicitly trusting "Prison Architect64.exe" if you're using a firewall or any kind of antivirus.


On an entirely unrelated note. The game has a weird fascination with needlessly phoning home constantly, for no apparent reason.

**Thank you for actually submitting a helpful and intelligent r response, that is also respectful. I didn't have any luck following Monkey's advice, but i will attempt it again. I'm glad to hear someone found something that worked for them. My antivirus is off, all the boxes checked off via steams troubleshoot page.

I did have luck switching to a beta version, and then it wouldn't work again. I then switched my game back from beta, and was able to get it to run.

I have no idea what that does, but verifying integrity files before i play, and going back and forth between beta and nonbeta, seemed to allow the game to work without many issues.

[MonkehMaster]

Originally posted by brittle_rose:

Originally posted by (PG) Essedus:

So I woke up at 3 this morning, couldn't get back to sleep. I've spent the last 4 hours doing some trouble shooting because I also had an itch to play this. The game in my case the PC would hard lock and become completely unresponsive when I tried to launch the game from steam. I had to physically hold the power button to kill it. I've since fixed the problem for myself, my findings MIGHT help others.

For starters, MonkehMaster's guide for running the game without the launcher works. The game will not launch directly from the exe though, attempting to do so makes it run briefly and crashes to desktop with no error message. It does however run from the steam launcher but does not open the paradox one, if you have followed his instructions. I have no idea why it works from steam after implementing his changes but not the executable. Removing any of the paradox launcher files will force it to redownload them. If it is unable to obtain the launcher files the game will not launch and tell you to validate.

I also run COMODO firewall, and after much trial and error discovered it was COMODO that was causing the game to hard lock my PC because it wasn't allowing something in executable to do its thing. With COMODO off the game runs just fine. I spent the next few hours disabling the exe's access to certain things one by one, but was unable to get it lock the system again. Eventually I found that the exe was being auto quarantined at the moment of launch before it has a chance to really take any action, but I've been unable to determine why it is being flagged.

TLDR:
Try explicitly trusting "Prison Architect64.exe" if you're using a firewall or any kind of antivirus.


On an entirely unrelated note. The game has a weird fascination with needlessly phoning home constantly, for no apparent reason.

**Thank you for actually submitting a helpful and intelligent r response, that is also respectful. I didn't have any luck following Monkey's advice, but i will attempt it again. I'm glad to hear someone found something that worked for them. My antivirus is off, all the boxes checked off via steams troubleshoot page.

I did have luck switching to a beta version, and then it wouldn't work again. I then switched my game back from beta, and was able to get it to run.

I have no idea what that does, but verifying integrity files before i play, and going back and forth between beta and nonbeta, seemed to allow the game to work without many issues.

if thats the case, then you may want to uninstall the game, then clear steam download cache (keep in mind this will force you to log back into steam as it will forget your user/pass... assuming you are using the "Remember me" option so you dont have to keep logging in), then reinstall the game, verify the files again to be safe, then try running the game.