HELP: Over Half My Games Suddenly Won't Launch

[Buried Egg]

About a week ago, I discovered that all my COD games, Metro Exodus Enhanced, MK11, Horizon Zero Dawn, Nier Automata, and others won't even launch. All (except MK11) fail with a Directx or other "graphics" error.

So far the games that -still- work are Cyberpunk and Doom Eternal and my VR games.

When launching MK11 and it just hung. No error. Task Manager and Steam say it's running but no onscreen game happening. Just regular desktop sitting in front of me.

Games like Ascent or Deep Rock Horizon launch, but the resolution is wrong and leads to a tiny windowed mode that my controls/keyboard can't interact with.

Also, although Cyberpunk works about a month ago I noticed the Settings screen no longer displays what resolution I'm at (no longer says 2160, just shows 'blank' space for resolution). Not sure if that's related.

I'm dying here. I -really- need help as re-installing Windows would be a week long process (this is also my Home Theatre Media Center rig.

Other details:
Windows 10 64bit
Core i7 10700
RTX 2080 ti
ASUS Z490-A Prime

Connected to Samsung 85" 4K TV HDR
via HDMI 48Gpbs cable
Running through Denon Receiver to TV via High Speed 4K 60Hz HDMI Port

Things I've already tried:
-Reinstall Latest Nvidia Drivers
-Roll Back Nvidia Drivers to 12-2020
-Install all devices/Mobo drivers via Win Update
-Turn off HDR
-Disable Steam Overlay
-Disable Geforce Experience In-Game Overlay
-Disable Geforce Optimize Features

[Fishie]

For metro exodus, make sure when game loads in the main menu go to options and change directx dx12 to dx11. Don't start the game till that is changed.

Also you could try for some games, launch steam then unplugged internet cord or turn off wifi then launch game.

make sure all drivers are updated.

turn anti virus off.

[IFIYGD]

Messaggio originale di GSharp740:

...

turn anti virus off.

Turning anti-virus off won't help if the AV has already locked off some game files into quarantine/virus vault, as false-flagged potential malicious software.

OP- check your security software to see if any game files or Steam files have been already locked off in virus quarantine. If any have been, restore them and add the entire game folder to the AV exceptions list. Security software has become a super-protective nanny these days with what has been going in with attacks and exploits. it's a PITA, but also a good thing. Just a PITA good thing.

Also check to make sure your Steamworks Common Redstributables tool is up-to-date (validate file integrity of the tool), or validate game file integrity for each game to make sure the redist(s) for that game are up-to-date and the correct versions are installed.

[Buried Egg]

First, thank you all for responding with suggestions!

Yup, Steamworks Common Redistributables Tool is up to date (last updated Feb 15 2021). I did the Validate Integrity thing on each of my games that failed to launch. Alway came back clean.

Checked the Threat History of my Anti-Virus. Nothing has been blocked/quarantined in the past 6 months. Always have my game folders in Exception Lists for my AV.

Additionally, "Quake II RTX", "Deliver Us The Moon", and "Stay In The Light" all work. So many others suddenly don't work though. Really thinking this is a graphic card/driver/API issue. Killing me here! Never seen anything so random like this.

[IFIYGD]

Did you update to 20H2 just before this started, or install any updates (Windows or otherwise)? I think there was a windows update on Thursday, IIRC (not on my Windows 10 machine right now, so I can't easily check). Try uninstalling/rolling back any updates you downloaded and installed just before this started happening and test if things work again (will likely need a reboot of your machine before the rollback is finalized).

[Buried Egg]

OK, I spent the morning uninstalling 20H2 and 21H1. Those were the only ones Windows would let me Uninstall in my history. No change.

Thanks, though. It wasn't a bad idea. I initially suspected a Windows Update broke things too.

The most recent installs made on this PC before the games stopped working were:

-Roblox Player
-Viveport Diagnosis
-Minecraft
-Java 8 Update
-Origin
-MS Office (From MS Store)
-Edge Update

I don't think I even manually installed MS Office. I think it's an automatic launcher that Windows Installed because I've never signed-in to Office to actually use it.

[Buried Egg]

*UPDATE: PROBLEM IDENTIFIED*
It was the ENHANCED MODE on my Denon Receiver's HDMI Settings.

In order to get 4K, 60hz, HDR, and 5.1 sound to all fit through my receiver's HDMI port from my PC, I had to set the HDMI port to "ENHANDED MODE". What I didn't realize is that "Enhanced Mode" causes all kinds of havok for many games making it difficult to identify the resolution of the Monitor/TV or even that a monitor is even connected! So COD and Ascent and MK11 couldn't even see my TV/Monitor when the receiver's HDMI that the PC was connected to was running in Enhanced Mode.

This really sucks on Denon's part. It sucks that my receiver (S750H) only allows 60hz at 4k for Windows Gaming in the first place. But it -really- sucks that this enhanced mode is necessary to achieve full 4K bandwidth (HDR, 60hz, etc). I could just resign myself to keep playing without HDR on my games (by leaving Enhanced Mode off) but screw that!

I have ordered Denon's S960H model. Arrives in 2 days. I'm hoping the added bandwidth of that model's 8K HDMI ports will eliminate the need to use "Enhanced Mode". Also supports HDCP 2.3 which should eliminate a lot of problems I was having getting 5.1 to come through the eARC passthrough. We shall see and I will be sure to follow up here! I hate when users post about problems and then never follow up to provide everyone with the solution.

Thanks everyone!