[2021] Red Triangle "Failed to lauch game"

In the game launcher please set Display mode to windowed.

IF that doesn't help, Please do a full **clean** re-install:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-CK3
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/CK3 AND Documents/Paradox/CK3 folders
- re-install game in Steam, run a Steam Verify when done.
- add CK3.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.
- start the game with no mods active and test

In particular make sure there are no files or folders left under either the Steam CK3 or Documents CK3 locations, before installing again.


If those don't help:
DXDIAG is a program you run from a command prompt or the Windows start menu 'run' dialog box (or 'search programs' in Windows 7 or later). 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 your Documents/Paradox/CK3/pdx_settings.txt .
From your Documents/Paradox/CK3/logs/ folder, attach system.log , error.log  

That first screenshot shows you adding the game to the Windows Defender firewall, but that's is not the potential problem here - it's the antivirus/ransomware functionality of WD that can be the problem. Firewalls only govern external communications, they do nothing within your machine itself. The 6th screenshot is the right place but we don't see the game or Paradox Launcher added there - please add them to that Apps Allowed Through list.

That second screenshot shows me dxdiag.txt in your file system, but I need to actually see the content of that file, please attach it here.  

I don't know where that first number comes from, not seen that before. But the launcher is now in there correctly. You can't add ck3.exe there?

What happens if you exit the Steam app entirely and run ck3.exe directly?  

Right click on this game in your Steam library, manage, browse local files. You'll see a folder Binaries, ck3.exe is in there. Exit Steam entirely then double click on that ck3.exe to run it.

What happens?  

You are missing some Microsoft DLLs in your Windows installation. Please go here:

The latest supported Visual C++ downloads

This article lists the download links for the latest versions of Visual C++. support.microsoft.com And run the x86 and x64 installers there.


That should fix that problem!