[2023] CK3 will not load, no mods, exit null code, more within...

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly from File Explorer? Do you get any clearer Windows error then?


If not: Right click on ck3.exe , properties, compatibility. Tick "disable fullScreen optimisations" untick every other box in that dialog, Apply and exit.

Then in the launcher Game Settings menu, select fullScreen display mode, Vsync off, cap refresh rate at 60.



If that doesn't help:
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/Stellaris/settings.txt and pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log , exceptions.log  

Nitrotic said: What happens when I try running the CK3 exe directly is what I described. The launcher throws up the exit null code,

Running ck3.exe does not involve the launcher at all. Are you perhaps using a desktop shortcut or something? The idea is that you double click on ck3.exe directly in File Explorer. It is in Steam/SteamApps/common/CK3/binaries/

That dxdiag shows no crashes in ck3.exe , but AppHangs instead.

Please attach here your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/settings.txt and pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/logs/ folder, attach here system.log , error.log , exceptions.log  

Sorry for pasting in the wrong game! Running too many issues at once

Unfortunately Windows error 0xc000012d doesn't have a clear cause, what what I can find online.

That system.log shows the game thinks you have WIndows 8.1, so I guess you've set ck3.exe to Win8.1 compatibility mode? Right click on ck3.exe , properties, compatibility. Tick "disable fullScreen optimisations" untick every other box in that dialog, Apply and exit.

Your video setup is a bit unusual - that dxdiag shows your monitor's native refresh rate is 40, yet Windows is running at 165! Vsnc is still enabled in the game, yet its refresh rate cap is set to 40. What fps do you see in the game? Not that these issues would normally cause the problem you are seeing.


What if you make a new Windows user on this machine and log into it with that? Run ck3.exe directly again, do you still get the 0xc000012d error?

If so please try this Windows repair tool

Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files - Microsoft Support

Describes how to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files in Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista. support.microsoft.com  

That means that either there is some app or utility running under the original user ID causing this to the game, or that profile is corrupted.

When running as that ID disable all startup utilities and apps you can then reboot. Does the problem still happen?