Game will not launch no matter what

[JC gracian]

So I recently bought Sunset overdrive again after requesting a refund in the past, twice, because it wouldn't start/ run for me. I upgraded my PC so I figured, with a new top shelf PC, the game would run this time. Unfortunately that is not the case. I eagerly downloaded and installed it, hoping to finally play this game after waiting 10+ years.

All that would happen is steam would say it's running, for a couple seconds and then stop. I did some research and found this problem has persisted with users for over 8 years!!!

So, I tried every suggestion I found online to get this cursed game to run.

I verified game files- they're all good
I ran it as admin- nothing
I shut off ALL internet security i.e. antivirus(comodo), and firewall- bye bye protection
I ensured my drivers were good- they're all up to date
I ensured that it was whitelisted/excluded by my antivirus- check
I cleared the save sync file- it's good
I ran it as admin again under these conditions- NOTHING

What in the world is going on with this game??? NOTHING is working, I'm about to lose my mind trying to play it, I am beyond frustrated, nothing I find online will fix this issue, and the devs don't seem to give two craps about this issue.

please help, I just wanna grind some rails and shoot some soda zombos :(

[gooffgoop]

The PC port of this game is notoriously awful. Dev support ended around 2018, I think. All I can recommend is trying out the Microsoft Store/Game Pass version, and see if that works for you. That version works for me more consistently, but still sporadically (I've had the game installed for 3+ years and've only been able to get it running around 10 times or so (pure luck)).

You've done pretty much all the fixes I'm aware of, but it's worth noting that there're some performance issues relating to SSDs. If you have an HDD, try installing on that, just to test it out. The other obvious answer that anybody'll recommend is just reinstalling the game, but that NEVER worked for me.

I randomly started it again last night, and GOT IT RUNNING, but now I can't start it again, so I understand the pain

What exactly happens when you try to start it? Have you EVER been able to get it running?
Cause for me, I start it, am met with the splash screen, and it either crashes or just stops. SOMETIMES it'll run after the splash screen, and I'll be able to play, but that's rare. Recently noticed that it still remains on my task manager after that crash/exit thing.