Can't launch through Steam?

[SuwinTzi]

Recently couldn't play anymore, Steam won't bring up the launcher. Anyone else have any idea how to fix?

Last time this happened, opted out of Steam beta and was able to play again.

[Wokeye]

Also happening to my daughter. Reinstalled but still unable to get the launcher to load.

[cruinne]

The problem when this happens is not normally in the install folder, it's in the user files.
When you then reinstall, the user files don't get touched and remain the same, so the problem doesn't get solved.

You can start by going into your user files (normally found under Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3) and removing some of the cached files that are prone to corruption. Starting at that The Sims 3 folder:

• Open the DCCache folder, and, inside it, delete missingdeps.idx and dcc.ent.
  
• Open the SavedSims folder (you may not always have one), and remove the file named downloadedsims.index.
  
• In the Downloads folder, remove any .bin files (enter *.bin in the "Search" area to list them).
  
• In the SigsCache folder, remove any .bin files.

There are other files that can become corrupt, but this is a good start.

[squeE.gg]

Same is Happaning to my game, just installed it bak on my PC

[cruinne]

Have you tried my suggestion above?

[Double Tap]

the same thing is happening to me

[MustachioBro]

I had the same issue - but I've managed to resolve it via a simple fix!

When looking at your games library;
- Find your Sims 3 game
- Right click it, select play game
This will bring up the expansions/DLC box, just click okay
You should then get the 'running' message next to Sims 3
From here it should load up the Sims 3 Launcher as normal

This worked for me without having to delete or reinstall the game. I also tested the game afterwards and there appears to be no damage to my saved games.

Hope this works for you guys!

[Caveman with a flaming stick]

Originally posted by MustachioBro:

I had the same issue - but I've managed to resolve it via a simple fix!

When looking at your games library;
- Find your Sims 3 game
- Right click it, select play game
This will bring up the expansions/DLC box, just click okay
You should then get the 'running' message next to Sims 3
From here it should load up the Sims 3 Launcher as normal

This worked for me without having to delete or reinstall the game. I also tested the game afterwards and there appears to be no damage to my saved games.

Hope this works for you guys!

Just tried this and it worked for me no problem, great job dude, I'm glad we may have found a solution within the day, if anyone tries this method and still has an issue post it below.

[SuwinTzi]

Originally posted by MustachioBro:

I had the same issue - but I've managed to resolve it via a simple fix!

When looking at your games library;
- Find your Sims 3 game
- Right click it, select play game
This will bring up the expansions/DLC box, just click okay
You should then get the 'running' message next to Sims 3
From here it should load up the Sims 3 Launcher as normal

This worked for me without having to delete or reinstall the game. I also tested the game afterwards and there appears to be no damage to my saved games.

Hope this works for you guys!

OMG this works, but WHY DOES THIS WORK???

[SuwinTzi]

Originally posted by cruinne:

Have you tried my suggestion above?

Tried your suggestions, no dice, but MustachioBro's solution works for some strange ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ reason.

[Caveman with a flaming stick]

Originally posted by Konstantin Mikhail:

Originally posted by MustachioBro:

I had the same issue - but I've managed to resolve it via a simple fix!

When looking at your games library;
- Find your Sims 3 game
- Right click it, select play game
This will bring up the expansions/DLC box, just click okay
You should then get the 'running' message next to Sims 3
From here it should load up the Sims 3 Launcher as normal

This worked for me without having to delete or reinstall the game. I also tested the game afterwards and there appears to be no damage to my saved games.

Hope this works for you guys!

OMG this works, but WHY DOES THIS WORK???

Maybe its because it launches it more directly, or through a different file path, but I'm just guessing

[WaveX_wav]

Originally posted by MustachioBro:

I had the same issue - but I've managed to resolve it via a simple fix!

When looking at your games library;
- Find your Sims 3 game
- Right click it, select play game
This will bring up the expansions/DLC box, just click okay
You should then get the 'running' message next to Sims 3
From here it should load up the Sims 3 Launcher as normal

This worked for me without having to delete or reinstall the game. I also tested the game afterwards and there appears to be no damage to my saved games.

Hope this works for you guys!

Get this user a medal

[exottoyuhr]

Originally posted by cruinne:

The problem when this happens is not normally in the install folder, it's in the user files.
When you then reinstall, the user files don't get touched and remain the same, so the problem doesn't get solved.

You can start by going into your user files (normally found under Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3) and removing some of the cached files that are prone to corruption. Starting at that The Sims 3 folder:

• Open the DCCache folder, and, inside it, delete missingdeps.idx and dcc.ent.
  
• Open the SavedSims folder (you may not always have one), and remove the file named downloadedsims.index.
  
• In the Downloads folder, remove any .bin files (enter *.bin in the "Search" area to list them).
  
• In the SigsCache folder, remove any .bin files.

There are other files that can become corrupt, but this is a good start.

This works!

[bootymunch]

Mine was doing this and I setup the desktop shortcut and using that finally opened the game.

[IOU1BIG1]

My game still won't launch. Stil gives me the same message every time "Service Initialization failed." What does that mean? Given, I haven't played for a long time and just now reinstalled the game to begin playing again. What do I do?

[IOU1BIG1]

I went through, and deleted the files as suggested on this discussion. Still didn't work.