[2023] CK3 crashes within 2-3 years after game start

This crash is nothing to do with .NET , as the game does not use it.

Your problem is likely here:

Processor: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900K (32 CPUs), ~3.0GHz

This is a current issue with this game, or rather the underlying game engine, which is being investigated. Meantime use Affinity in Windows to restrict ck3.exe to use only the first 16 cores (ie the p-cores) you have there.

Sorry for that problem!  

Well, I assure you that is a problem with this game and those models of CPU. Also with Vic3 and Imperator, that use the same game engine.

It may be you have a different problem as well, or instead, of course. However your symptoms do match the problem with e-cores ... are you sure you've set Affinity correctly for ck3.exe and your setup?


DXDIAG is a program you run from the Windows search box on the task bar. After running it will open a window and start collecting info with a progress bar in the lower-left corner. When it completes click the 'save all information' button and save it to a file then attach that file here.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3/pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log  

No mention of this game in that dxdiag. But lots of crashes in MsiExec.exe , do try unloading all MSI apps/utilities and geForce Experience if running. And undo any overclocking you might have enabled.  

Sorry, yes, my error - msiexec.exe is indeed a MS utility, nothing to do with MSI as such.

However it should not be running unless you are in the process of installing something. You can kill it in Task Manager-processes quite safely at other times.

Whether that is related to your issue suspected with the Windows updates I'm not sure!  

I'm not sure I understand - you are saying you get crashes in msiexec.exe yet it is not in use? It is definitely not running? That will be unrelated to this game as such of course, it doesn't use msiexec.exe , only our launcher does.

But now we see crashes in svchost.exe and sppsvc.exe as well - core parts of Windows. Would you say you are having problems in Windows or on this computer aside from this game?

Make a new Windows user on this machine and log into it with that. Test with a new campaign there, do you get the same problem?  

Jiajinlong Kang said: And I have ABSOLUTELY no problem with my windows system or other games. CK3 is the only game crashing. I have had no issue with CK3 previously so my system is perfectly fine.

Well, as I say we can clearly see crashes in core Windows components in that dxdiag. They may or may not be serious, I don't know, but it's not a good look!

Of course I don't ever suggest anything that cannot possibly help, but If you don't want to try my diagnostic steps, that is your right of course.

The fact is your symptoms match exactly the issues we know of with 12th and 13th gen Intel CPUs, and I cannot understand why he Affinity workaround is not helping you like it has many others. I don't really have anything else to suggest.  

Jiajinlong Kang said: If you are going to suggest reinstalling the system then no.

I didn't suggest that, did I? Just making a new Windows user. Perhaps an alternative would be to disable all startup items in your existing Windows user and reboot.

Jiajinlong Kang said: Maybe instead of blaming intel for architecture change or blaming player for their system, reflect on why your engine is so vulnerable.

No one here blamed Intel. Quite the opposite, we are accepting responsibility for our games NOT coping with Intel architecture changes. Until the game engine devs produce fix patches for that issue, I'm trying to help you past it. But your results appear to point away from that issue, despite the symptoms. Given that, we are left with some local issue, most likely.

Jiajinlong Kang said: I am sick of CK3 team’s “I don’t care. If what we provide does not help, then f*ck off” altitude

You will stop swearing here, and stop denigrating our development team, NOW.  

Sneakk said: Hi! I seem to have the exact same issue, and the workaround is also not working for me either. I am also unable to create a new user on my pc, but I'm more than willing to try any other ideas you may have. I'll attach my dxdiag upfront just in case you need it!

As you can see in there, you have a problem with your Intel video driver. Please get a supported one from Intel

Download Intel Drivers and Software

Download new and previously released drivers including support software, bios, utilities, firmware and patches for Intel products. downloadcenter.intel.com
IF that doesn't help:
Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3/pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/CK3/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log, exceptions.log