XCOM 2 won't launch

[Tranquil]

Hello everyone, I'm playing XCOM2 on Windows 10 and it has been ok so far. Since the last update however, the game won't launch anymore. I did the Steam local files check. Did not help. Then I deleted and reinstalled XCOM2. Did not help either. I tried to run the game with or without mods, same result. The 2K Launcher appears, but starting the game don't work. Does someone have the same or a similiar problem right now?

[Agrippa HX]

🙄

[The Sentinel68]

No one shoud use the 2K launcher, because it's crap, Use the the Alternative Mod Launcher (AML)
https://github.com/X2CommunityCore/xcom2-launcher

[Maximilian17]

Have you tried this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Xcom/comments/58wg2b/is_there_a_way_to_skip_the_launcher/?utm_source=amp&utm_medium=&utm_content=post_body

There was a guide in steam on how to bypass 2k launcher but it seems disappear. I use that guide.

But try the above link from reddit instead.

[Tranquil]

Thx alot to both of you :-) The Sentinel68 & Coffee Machine Gun. Unfortunatelly both ways don't work so far. I deleted XCOM2 and will reinstall it again, this time with WOTC, maybe it might work.

[Skakk]

When deleting and reinstalling the game, make sure to delete all files related to Xcom.

There are files in ..../AppData/Roaming & ..../AppData/Local

Steam only deletes files they installed, not ini files etc created by you starting the game or saving or adding mods etc. or files Fireaxis has told Steam not to remove like possible anti cheats or spyware.

There may be more files from the game in documents folder or elsewhere.
Best to search for all related files to Fireaxis & Xcom and delete.
Then use a cleaner software to search for broken files etc. and wipe

When reinstalling the game, download the Alternate Mod Launcher.
Even if your not using Mods, still download and use it.
The game runs smoother with it, and it is essential for using mods especially now with new game launcher.

https://github.com/X2CommunityCore/xcom2-launcher

[Maximilian17]

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Thx alot to both of you :-) The Sentinel68 & Coffee Machine Gun. Unfortunatelly both ways don't work so far. I deleted XCOM2 and will reinstall it again, this time with WOTC, maybe it might work.

What about this:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2207129226

[Skakk]

@Coffee Machine Gun - I have not tried that solution, but I have seen others recommend it.

Its another option to fix problems from the update to the launcher from July 2020, so it may also solve issues the thread author Tranquil is having.

Although that thread is for fixing non WotC mods to work with WotC that worked before the update a year ago..

Tranquil has not mentioned anything about trying to play WotC or if he even has it, so not sure if this will fix his issue.

Whatever his issue is, wiping clean and complete fresh install, along with using the Alternate Mod Launcher (link above in my last post) should fix 99% of his problems, whether he is playing WotC or not.

Also the author of the thread you posted mentioned its risky downloading 3rd party software like the Alternate Mod Launcher(AML) or similar. I think he is over generalising and has no evidence to back up this claim. I think its damaging to the creator of AML and he should remove reference to this mod in particular or state that AML has been deemed safe by both antivirus', professionals and 1000's of users. This type of scaremongering styled as good advise is dangerous and worries alot of people considering using it.

If you want to use his advise and edit all the mods you want to use that no longer work for WotC, that were not originally made for WotC then be my guest.

I will just use AML which is designed to intelligently detect if a mod will work in WotC or not.
It also means I dont have to use 2Ks launcher which has been found to be malicious and contain Spyware, which that author failed to point out. Not sure if on purpose or because he lacks the knowledge or if because his thread is pre last launcher update.

I will not tell anyone what to use.
I just offer a solution that solves;
-Game not running.
-Mods not working.
-Game stuttering and lagging.
-Some mods not working correctly due to large mod list or specific large mods.
-Being forced to use Spyware to enjoy the game you bought.
-Being advertised to like your playing a mobile game.

[Skakk]

Sorry also something else about the thread you posted.

If you are not using WotC or plan to sometimes play WotC and sometimes Vanilla Xcom, will you have to edit the mods again each time you switch?
Will you also have to take note of each mod you edited? and keep safe for future reference?
Also will you have to individually test each mod to see what is working and what is not?
I have 75 mods currently in my mod list. That would be a pain to identify problematic mods.
Maybe you would have to unsubscribe to every mod and then reinstall them all one by one.

This all seems messy and a lot of work.
If you have 5 mods like the author of that thread then that would not be a big problem.

But why put yourself through that and give extra work, to then use a buggy launcher which lags in game due to it sending 2K information on your pc and game usage.

Just use the AML and save yourself heartache ;)

[Calavera]

Thanks everyone, you solved my problem. The custom launcher from GitHub was the answer: https://github.com/X2CommunityCore/xcom2-launcher/releases/tag/v1.4.1

[Ramrod]

Just had this problem its been running fine played every day for last two weeks. Then yesterday i closed the game to make dinner, come back 30 mins later and it wouldn't run. tried integrity check and reinstall but still nothing. Why is this even a thing?

[final]

@Ramrod.101fm you're not alone. I played it pretty much daily until August 4th. Didn't have time to play on the 5th, now on the 6th the launcher starts, but the game doesn't.
The xcom2 community launcher from the link above starts the game

[goonerdu]

2k are lucky they have dedicated fans who would develop something like the XCom laucher - https://github.com/X2CommunityCore/xcom2-launcher
Seriously JUST USE THAT!!!!

[paul5671]

Same problem as a few just had. Playing for hours. Shut game down. Tried to start up 10 minutes later. Launcher failed. Community launcher works! Makes me wonder what's up with that 2k launcher when this thread suddenly becomes active again in the last few days.

[Rienmo]

Originally posted by goonerdu:

2k are lucky they have dedicated fans who would develop something like the XCom laucher - https://github.com/X2CommunityCore/xcom2-launcher
Seriously JUST USE THAT!!!!

How do I use this? I'm not familiar with sth like this. Would appreciate some guiding!

[Armyofgreyknights]

Have the exact same problem, yesterday it still worked fine, now today me and a friend of mine both can't start the game from the 2k launcher...