Crusader Kings 3 Dev Tracker

FYI neither our games nor launcher are supported on Fedora; Ubuntu only. Which may or may not be the cause of your problem.

Right click the game you're having issues with in your Steam library and add this in the "Launch Options" window:

--pdxlDebug

Start the launcher and the debug log will be automatically generated and located in one of the below locations

• $XDG_DATA_HOME/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/logs/ (if $XDG_DATA_HOME is set)
• ~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/logs/ (if $XDG_DATA_HOME is not set)

Attach those launcher logs here.


Do the game's launch from their executables okay? ./ck3 in the case of this game.  

I don't see any reason for this problem in those files.

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, refresh rate 60.

If still a problem, also select Vulkan in that menu.

Do they make any difference?  

Looks like you never even see our launcher, is that right? Note that the only distro the game and launcher are supported on is Ubuntu, they are not tested on Pop_os

Right click the game you're having issues with in your Steam library and add this in the "Launch Options" window:

--pdxlDebug


2. Start the launcher and the debug log will be automatically generated

• $XDG_DATA_HOME/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/logs/ (if $XDG_DATA_HOME is set)
• ~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/logs/ (if $XDG_DATA_HOME is not set)

Attach them here please.


What if you start the game's executable from a command line in a terminal session? Does it run that way?  

atrubetskoy said: I use the standard Windows Defender.
I added all the above to the exceptions list in Windows Defender, encountered the same problem

Was that specifically in the Ransomware-controlled folder access feature? I ask because sometimes users have confused that with the firewall feature in WD, which has nothing to do with this problem.


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 cli... Read more

I'm afraid this is a current issue still under investigation. We're not at all sure why it affects the few users it does affect!

One user reported this fix:

go to your Windows settings, the Apps tab, Optional features, Add a feature called “Graphics tools” (find it in a list, “tick” the box and confirm) - it will take a moment to download and install, then restart the system for good measure and try the Launcher installer again; if you’re on an N release of Windows (10N or 11N), also add Media Feature Pack

If that doesn't help, Could you please do the following? It will generate a debug log that the launcher team can use to "deep dive" into what actually happens with the launcher.

• Right click the game in question in Steam > Properties > Launch Options
• ...

Read more

atrubetskoy said: Thank you for getting back to me, apologies about using the same thread.
If I run CK3.exe the game launches, goes to loading screen with the art and then crashes to desktop with no message.
I did launch CK3 on this laptop a few times about a year ago.

Ah, that is usually an antivirus app getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

ck3.exe (in the Steam CK3-binaries folder)
dowser.exe (in the Steam CK3-launcher folder)
C:/users/{username}/AppData/L... Read more

atrubetskoy said: Hello! I have a similar issue, my CK 3 only opens the launcher and when I press play it says "An error has Occurred. The game appears to have crashed or terminated unexpectedly (exit code null). The issue may be solved ..."
I tried doing a clean reinstall, but nothing helps. I tried to run as admin, tried to change DX11 with OpenGL, tried to add CK3.exe to exceptions in Defender
I attached the DxDiag and pdx settings, however I do not have a logs folder in the CK3 folder.
Let me know if you need anything else

Plea... Read more

Is this just happening in this one particular campaign, are you saying? If you start a new test one it is okay?  

Only purchases from Steam or Paradox show in your Paradox account. No other platform provides any facility for syncing game ownership.

You bought a non-Steam edition of the game, so there is no entitlement to get a free copy on Steam as well. If you wanted it on Steam, get a refund from Microsoft and buy it from Steam instead.  

i_went_broke said: so i purchased Crusader Kings III from microsoft and after that i linked my steam and microsoft account in paradox but i don't see Crusader Kings III on my steam do i have to purchase it again for steam and also

When you buy a game on Microsoft, you get the game on that platform, like for Epic platform.

To have the game on Steam, you have to buy the game on Steam or on a platform that sells Steam keys.  

Ah, that is usually an antivirus app getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

ck3.exe (in the Steam CK3-binaries folder)
dowser.exe (in the Steam CK3-launcher folder)
C:/users//AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2023.1.1/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users//AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT ck3.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

Then the game should run from Steam/our launcher, and enable all the DLCs.  

Here is the clean reinstall process for this game:

- move any valued save games elsewhere
- "uninstall" in Steam-CK3
- manually delete both the Steam/SteamApps/common/CK3 AND Documents/Paradox Interactive/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.

Good luck!  

This is still a current problem I'm afraid:

Mods enabled, yet not working after 1.6.0 update.

After I updated to the new 1.6.0 update, my mods stopped working for some reason. I tried disabling and re-enabling my mods, unsubb... Read more

As I said in your other thread, you need to check the Bug Reports forum for similar reports. We in tech support can do nothing about bugs, especially in the console edition.  

Is this only with CK3? What if you do cloud saves with EU4, Stellaris, or CK2?

And has this always been the case with this game? Or it was okay up to some point?

You could try a Steam Flush Config

Steam Support :: Clear download cache

... Read more

Do your cloud saves appear on that Steam page? Or not?  

I'm not a console player, but if you have any way of extracting that saved game - please make a new thread in the Bug Reports forum here and attach it there.

Thanks, and sorry for that problem!  

Well, that's not impossible either, although that would be an unusual effect of malware. You could do a deep scan of the system with, I'd suggest, at least 3 different AV apps. Malwarebytes and Spybot are two good free one.  

That does explain your weird symptoms ... good luck with that! I hope it doesn't come out too expensive!  

Steam cloud saves can be seen here:

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store.steampowered.com ... Read more