[SOLVED] Game not launching, please help

[Mizohican]

For the past 3-4 days, the game is suddenly not launching for me (it was working fine before that). I click "Play", then it shows "synchronising cloud", then it shows "cloud status up to date" and then it comes back to the Play button.

I checked the solutions others have posted, and no, I am not using any mods, I've been playing only vanilla till now. And no I do not have memory issues. Could this be related to the launcher issue others have recently posted?

[MarkJohnson]

I'm not sure what other user's have recently posted, but you can try bypassing the Paradox launcher and see it it works.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2178470357

[Mizohican]

Originally posted by MarkJohnson:

I'm not sure what other user's have recently posted, but you can try bypassing the Paradox launcher and see it it works.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2178470357

I followed the exact steps as mentioned, and I got the pop up error message:

Failed to start process for this game: "The operation completed successfully." (0x0)

[MarkJohnson]

Verify game files first.

Maybe try running Windows update.

DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Install ,Net:
https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet-framework/thank-you/net481-web-installer

Visual C++ Redistributable:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170

Be sure to restart your computer after each file you install and test by launching the game.

[ForesterSOF]

I wonder if you turn cloud saves off the not loading will work.

[MarkJohnson]

Originally posted by ForesterSOF:

I wonder if you turn cloud saves off the not loading will work.

Wouldn't he lose his city forever?

Rather he should start a new city and disable cloud saves to see if things clear up.

[Mizohican]

Thank you, let me try those you recommend. I too feel this is more of a Windows side issue, as I am not using any mods and the game was working fine all along and then the next day it stopped working suddenly. I bought a couple of DLCs during the recent sale too and I feel sad I cannot try those out (the game stopped launching before I bought the DLCs, just in case you might think it has to do with the DLCs I bought). And just to be clear, even the launcher itself is not launching, and when I bypass the launcher as suggested, the game too is not launching. :(

[OneJasonBradly]

You did verify game files? To ensure nothing happened due to a windows update?

[Mizohican]

Originally posted by OneJasonBradly:

You did verify game files? To ensure nothing happened due to a windows update?

I just did that and restarted my PC, it is still not launching. I also checked all the Windows check list MarkJohnson recommended above and its still not launching. I even unchecked all my DLCs and tried launching just the base game alone but still nothing.

[MarkJohnson]

Originally posted by Mizohican:

Thank you, let me try those you recommend. I too feel this is more of a Windows side issue, as I am not using any mods and the game was working fine all along and then the next day it stopped working suddenly. I bought a couple of DLCs during the recent sale too and I feel sad I cannot try those out (the game stopped launching before I bought the DLCs, just in case you might think it has to do with the DLCs I bought). And just to be clear, even the launcher itself is not launching, and when I bypass the launcher as suggested, the game too is not launching. :(

Last thing to try is uninstall the game, reboot your computer and reinstall it. If that fails, not sure what else you can do.

[Mizohican]

Originally posted by MarkJohnson:

Last thing to try is uninstall the game, reboot your computer and reinstall it. If that fails, not sure what else you can do.

I uninstalled the game, rebooted and installed the game again and unchecked all DLCs but I am still facing the same launch issue. This is so weird. All my other games (with higher system requirements) are all working fine. Anyway its fine, I am about to move to a new gaming rig my friend assembled for me this month and I am sure I will be able to play from that. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[james]

try forcing DirectX 9

-force-d3d9

[MarkJohnson]

Originally posted by Mizohican:

Anyway its fine, I am about to move to a new gaming rig my friend assembled for me this month and I am sure I will be able to play from that. Thanks for all the suggestions.

IME, do not install CS1 as first game. If I install CS1 first, then the paradox launcher has issues, as well as DirectX, Visual C++ framework, and .Net freak out CS1 sometimes.

I highly advise to install CS2 first if you have it. I even try installing a few other games first, so it get most requirement for running any game. If you have other games not on Steam, install at least one major title from each platform (GOG, Epic, Rockstar, EA, Etc.) before installing CS1. so you have the least possible issues.

[Mizohican]

Its working now, woohooo! I tried once more after uninstalling and reinstalling the game, reinstalled DirectX, .Net and Visual C++ again as instructed, still didn't work, and then I tried the launcher bypass mentioned one more time

Originally posted by MarkJohnson:

I'm not sure what other user's have recently posted, but you can try bypassing the Paradox launcher and see it it works.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2178470357

And now my game is FINALLY launching. Thank you all so much.

Originally posted by james:

try forcing DirectX 9

-force-d3d9

I tried this and it didn't work, but I tried the other method once more and it is now working, thank you.

Originally posted by MarkJohnson:

I highly advise to install CS2 first if you have it. I even try installing a few other games first, so it get most requirement for running any game. If you have other games not on Steam, install at least one major title from each platform (GOG, Epic, Rockstar, EA, Etc.) before installing CS1. so you have the least possible issues.

I don't have CS2 yet but that's the reason why I have upgraded my gaming rig, so I can play CS2. I will take your advice once I do that. Thank you all for your help.