Can't Launch ESO on Steam? [HELP] - UPDATED June 30 2020

[ZOS_SamL]

UPDATE June 4 2021:

For the users who have installer errors for Blackwood:
The installer can be started in debug mode to produce a log file. It will not fix the error but might help us to identify the real problem:
Start the setup.exe by holding the CTRL key, all the way until the error comes up. (Default location: c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online\setup.exe)
Find a file named sea.log in the root of the partition, eg: c:\sea.log but it can be a different drive letter.
It's possible that the log file is not created due to the error, but if it exists, please attach this log file to your support ticket and comment in the thread below with your support number so we can follow up.

UPDATE August 5 2020:

Steam maintenance the other night has removed some games from players' libraries.
Clear your download cache so you don't need to reinstall ESO.

1. Go to the "steam" tab in the top left, and click "settings"
2. Click on the "downloads" tab, then click "Clear download cache"
3. It prompts to sign you out, sign out then back in.

If you are hitting a black screen when hitting PLAY for ESO, try the steps in this thread.

If you are unable to launch the ESO launcher through Steam, you may need to disable your Firewall or leave ESO / Steam as an exception.

Continue scrolling through this post for additional steps if those solutions do not help.

UPDATE June 30 2020:

If your launcher does not have the right files, please contact CS specifically asking for the "Steam launcher zip" and provide your Steam build ID. (Follow those steps here[help.elderscrollsonline.com]). CS can distribute the proper launcher with all the right files.

If CS is taking longer than you'd like, you can try this solution submitted by @RJLite on Steam. Thank you RJ for your troubleshooting and patience.

引用自 RJLite：

All one needs to do is download the file that launches the installation, called "InstallESO.exe" and have a way to open and extract .zip files, be it winrar, 7-zip, winzip, or other.

Next, they need to open the file "InstallESO.exe" using 7-zip or whatever program. Running it instead of opening it through the 7-zip or similar program will only give the same error as before more likely than not. If not, then your issue is resolved or unrelated.

From there, navigate until they find the file folder called "Launcher", which is likely missing from the files that are downloaded through Steam or other, making the installer and launcher installer unusable, giving the error "Cannot execute program, get another copy of the installer and try again", or similar.
To navigate there, as of 6/30/2020, one must go through the following within 7-zip or similar based from where they downloaded the base file...
C:/.../Install_ESO.exe/InstallerData/Disk1/InstData/Resource1.zip/$IA_PROJECT_DIR$/src_path/Launcher

Double check that within the folder called "Launcher" that there's a file called ""Bethesda.net_Launcher.exe"", as that's the program that will, or should, fix the issue.

From there, extract the folder titled "Launcher" wherever you'd like and then add it (copy-paste) to where the other game files are.
(When downloaded through Steam, that should be found under C:\...\Steam\steamapps\common\Zenimax Online)
Finally, run the file within the newly added Launcher Folder called "Bethesda.net_Launcher.exe", and let it do it's thing.

After that, the Launcher should start up and begin installing and patching the game. It is recommended to close it out when it's finished instead of pressing to play game, restart your system, then try playing the game. This is as a precaution to prevent further potential issues.

From there, the issue should be fixed, and if not, the issue likely wasn't related to the launcher folder being missing, and you should be able to open the launcher already.

Hope this helps!

UPDATE May 18 2020:

We will be pushing a patcher update on May 20, 2020 (exact time TBD) that should address the following issues:
- InstallAnywhere cannot be found after initial download
- Patcher does not launch when hitting the Steam PLAY button
- Patcher gets stuck in a loading loop during a download

We are still investigating the ESO patcher not properly installing all relevant files through the Steam launcher. If you are still experiencing launch problems, please continue to file a ticket with us so we can troubleshoot.

Please file a ticket with us here![beth.games]

UPDATE May 4 2020:

Thank you for submitting tickets! We have identified a number of Steam stability issues, such as the InstallAnywhere issue, and are planning an update later this month to address these.

Older Post

Hey everyone,

Recently we've noticed an uptick in players unable to launch ESO through Steam at varying steps. We're currently collecting tickets through this week to try and narrow down the issue.

Please file a ticket with us here![beth.games]

NOTE: This includes any users who hit PLAY on Steam and the launcher doesn't open, or the InstallAnywhere issue where the loading bar freezes.

The following instructions are NOT necessary for filing if you are experiencing general log-in issues, if the server is down, or a game crash. You are still encouraged to file a customer support ticket, but our queues are backed up due to COVID-19 and launch tickets from other titles.

To make things easier, while you're filing, it would be important for us to have the following information:

• Attach the host developer file, which can be found by following these steps:[help.elderscrollsonline.com]
- Attach screenshots of the errors/screen you're locked up on
• Clarify if this is a fresh install or updating a previous version.
• What antivirus are you running?
• What region are you from?
• What are your hardware specs?
• Did you designate a drive for the game install other than the C:\ drive?
• Have you customized your Steam directory at all?
• Are you an admin on your local PC?
o If not, can you try running the program as an admin?
And last but not least, have you tried uninstalling and then reinstalling?

We're investigating whether this is an issue with the ESO patcher, with just Steam itself, some combination of the two, etc. The more information we have, the better.

>> Please include all of that information in your first support ticket. <<

> If you're having trouble filing a support ticket and can't log into your ESO account, note that you can still file with us by selecting "Account Recovery" on the login screen. This allows us to make sure your ESO account is properly linked as well as tracking your issue.

If you bump up your ticket with updates or additional information after filing, it will bump your ticket back to the end of the queue and we won't be able to respond to it as quickly.

We'll be keeping an eye out for any tickets that come through talking about being unable to launch from Steam, particularly with the above information, since this can help us narrow down where the issue is.

UPDATE April 20 2020:

Several users have reported success by moving the launch folder from:
C:\Users\**USER**\AppData\Local\Temp\I1487189051\InstallerData\Disk1\InstData\Resource1\$IA_PROJECT_DIR$\src_path\Launcher into the Zenimax Online folder.

Once you have moved these files, try launching the game through Steam again.

UPDATE Apr 17 2020:

We are still accepting reports and working with customers to solve any Steam-related ESO issues. Note that our Customer Support team has recently been overwhelmed with tickets with the influx of new players, and response times may take up to 2 weeks. We are still tracking tickets and will follow up with any appropriate solutions, as well as fixes, when we can.

[[UD] Crazy Cat Lady]

kinda reassuring to know i'm not the only one (Sorry i know that dont help). I've done a ticket to zos and sent them the game diagnostic report, but now theyre asking for dxdiag as well /facepalm

[ZOS_SamL]

We're continuing to monitor the situation. As a reminder, submit just one support ticket with us and wait for a response before updating your ticket; it can take up to 48 hours for a response, and updating your ticket will bump you back to the end of the queue.

[Whiskey Warrior]

I am going to try purging the game files as well as setting files and any others I can find for ESO and see if that works

[D'Rban]

引用自 sina002：

Поддержка углубляться в проблемы пользователей не хочет. Только отталкивают от мира игры и от желания играть.
С 30 апреля переписывался с поддержкой.
Объяснил суть проблемы, назвал возможные причины моей ошибки в самом начале переписки и только сегодня мне прислали сообщение, что причина в том, что я описал им раньше. До этого мы просто перебирали множество разных вариантов решения. Заключительное сообщение поддержки было вообще плевком в душу!!!

Реагирование 05.05.2021 10:26
Приветствуем!

Благодарим вас за обращение в службу поддержки The Elder Scrolls Online. С вами снова Андрей Б.

Да, всё верно ваша учетная запись находится на территории, в отношении которой в соответствии с постановлением правительства США были введены санкции. По этой причине, согласно законам и постановлению США, мы не можем оказывать вам дальнейшие услуги.

Благодарим вас за понимание!

С Наилучшими Пожеланиями,
Андрей Б.
Служба поддержки The Elder Scrolls Online

Так пусть вернут деньги за игру и дополнения, и потом купаются в своих санкциях. Раз не могу поддерживать свой сервис. Какая разница какие причины. Деньги получили - пусть сами и думают как поддерживать свой продукт несмотря на санкции. Либо всё возвращают.

Создали людям проблему и пишут: "С Наилучшими Пожеланиями", говнюки.

[D11]

Not sure if this helps, Closing MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner works for me

[ImprovKnight]

Your servers suck, why can't we ever play due to your lack of code and equipment?

[SotaSweetie]

引用自 Wizzigz：

Your servers suck, why can't we ever play due to your lack of code and equipment?

If you're having multiple issues playing the game, that's on you. I've never had an issue with the servers till now. Maybe you should get better equipment?

[ImprovKnight]

I'm talking about right now you goon

[SplitCoreGaming]

The biggest April Fools so far today is the fact I could jump on every other game no issues, and ESO still crashes instantly since latest DLC install.

[DrkKnght]

引用自 D11：

Not sure if this helps, Closing MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner works for me

I have been trying to get this game to work for days at this point and I do this and it decided to boot up and work flawlessly first try.

[[UD] Crazy Cat Lady]

引用自 DrkKnght96：

引用自 D11：

Not sure if this helps, Closing MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner works for me

I have been trying to get this game to work for days at this point and I do this and it decided to boot up and work flawlessly first try.

I aint got either of them on my system. Just tried a complete uninstall and clean reinstall and still getting same critical error msg. Sent another lot of msinfo and the diagnostic log from eso launcher to bethesda. Still waiting for some help to sort this :(

[nivtan]

I have tried several workarounds incl re-install of steam und teso.
Even pulled all additional HDDs and other periphery.
All I got is a launcher that stops at the first show of colour.
No "play" button.
I have more than 150 games here on steam.
Just this one is cranky after each and every update or maintenance.
But this time since nov/dez it wont work at all.
I invested money and time into teso, but it will stay deinstalled now.

It is not our job.
We as costumers have made it clear that there is something wrong for years.

[Starktale]

Launcher stuck on loading, tried everything within my capacity
this is absurd
the game is broken and nobody is fixing it

[ZOS_SamL]

引用自 nivtan：

I have tried several workarounds incl re-install of steam und teso.
Even pulled all additional HDDs and other periphery.
All I got is a launcher that stops at the first show of colour.
No "play" button.
I have more than 150 games here on steam.
Just this one is cranky after each and every update or maintenance.
But this time since nov/dez it wont work at all.
I invested money and time into teso, but it will stay deinstalled now.

It is not our job.
We as costumers have made it clear that there is something wrong for years.

If you haven't already, please file a support ticket with us here[help.elderscrollsonline.com] so we can have a better idea of what's going on. There are a variety of factors that could affect the game not launching properly, and it's hard to tell what is a Steam versus ESO issue from just the forums.

[nivtan]

From one day working to not working after a patch, yes youre right could be several things.


That question wasnt answered. Problem not solved not on my end.
I didnt change anything.