[2021] Crusader King's III Stuck on Initializing Game

Those files show game version 1.3.1 but current is 1.4.2 - have you opted into a beta or something? If so please opt out of all betas while we work on this.

Unfortunately the dxdiag is not much use as I think you hit the Save All Info button before it finished loading. Please try again, but wait until the green load bar is finished first, thanks.  

A couple of different errors in CK3.exe in that dxdiag, very unusual. And some other Windows errors, not 100% sure what to make of those.

Can you again please run all these installers:

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package MFC Security Update from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3 RC from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com

Download DirectX End-User Runtimes (June 2010) from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com (run dxsetup.exe after extracting from this download)

Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads

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

And tell me what happens with each one please? Any problem or error?


And if you run the Windows Update app, does it find anythign to apply? If so please do that and reboot.


And finally if none of that helps please run this Windows repair tool:

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

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
Good luck!  

I am sorry none of that helped. I do not know what is wrong in this Windows installation that is preventing our game from starting.

Wat if you make another user ID in Windows, log into Windows as that and try the game under there? Any different?  

That's a shame, the issue is not connected with your user profile then. I don't have a lot else to try!

In the nVidia control panel, manage 3D Settings, force ck3.exe onto the "integrated Intel" option there - does the game start then? If so the issue is in the nVidia software somewhere.

If that doesn't work, then In your Steam Library right-click on this game and choose Properties. Click on Set Launch Options, and paste this in there:
-opengl

If that helps then the issue is in DirectX 11 in Windows 10.  

gkbbrk said: i have DirectX12 version not 11 checked on dxdiag

You have both, plus probably DX9. 12 is not a replacement fo 11, which is what this game uses.  

So far as I know MS do not provide any method of fixing DX 10, 11 or 12 as such. DX9 is different as it iis a separate installation, but later ones are more or less built into Windows.

You could try this repair tool:

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

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 latter error is usually an antivirus getting in the way, which one do you use?

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.

You should add steam.exe and C:/users//AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2021.6/paradox launcher.exe to that list.  

In your Steam Library right-click on this game and choose Properties. Click on Set Launch Options, and paste this in there:
-opengl

Does the game then popen and run? It will likely be slow, but this will tell us if DirectX is really the issue.  

Oh really! Sorry I'd forgotten that. What happens now if you remove it?  

Okay then, it seems the issue is not in the video/graphics area.

Has this game ever run on this machine? Or never yet?

I see you have CK2, does that work?

If you make a second user account in Windows and log into this machine as that, will the game run then?