Crusader Kings 3 Dev Tracker

Unfortunately the gamepass edition is pretty opaque, from the Windows PoV. Here are some things you can try:


1. After installing the game through either the Microsoft store app or the Xbox beta app, click the start button, find Crusader Kings III and right Click -> More -> Run as administrator


2. Check your anti virus!
We've found that many are blocking ckiii.exe or the launcher.exe file so make sure you put them on the approved app list (how this is done will differ depending on the program so please Google your AV program for help)


3. Windows Ransomware!
This is an odd one but it seems CKIII get stuck there now and then! Please follow the below instructions to make sure it's approved: ... Read more

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 , exceptions.log  

We have three possible workarounds that may solve it:



Disable IPv6
- Close CK3
- Go to Control Panel > View Network status and tasks > Change adapter settings (left side)
- Find your Hamachi Connection and Disable it
- Find your Internet connection adapter (for me, it was WiFi)
- Right click your internet adapter and select properties
- Scroll down to find "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and uncheck the box
- Select Ok
- Start up CK3 and should work.



Disable all other network adapters

1. Go to Windows Control panel.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on View Network Status.
   Quick Tip: You can also quickly access these settings by right-clicking the network icon in the taskbar and selecting the Network & Internet settings option.
4. Click on Change adapter options.
5. Right-click all network adap...

Read more

Please make a new thread in Bug Reports and attach the affected save game there for QA to look into.

Sorry for that problem!  

I suspect you'll find it is not necessary to reinstall VC++ every time, since after the first time that will not change anything.

You have a bunch of mod errors in that log. Does this happen in a campaign that's never had any mods used in it?  

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-v2.2022.8/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.  

No mention of the game in that dxdiag, which is unusual for a won't-start issue like this.

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly? Any Windows error show up?

Then try reverting to 1.5.1.1 in the Steam Betas tab for the game - does that run?  

My point is the devs don't read this forum, or at least not much. As you want their attention BR would be the place!  

Please go here:

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.

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

- move any valued save games elsewhere
... Read more

There was also a Steam update around then, so I guess that was it.  

Did you mean to post this in Bug Reports, perhaps?  

Can you try deleting all playsets then making a new one again?

Are all your mods updated to work with 1.6.x properly?  

As yours was not fixed by 1.6.0.1 you have a different problem. Always best to start your own thread, thanks.


Please go here:

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... Read more

AtticusKrass said: I'm still having issues playing the game with the Princes of Darkness mod. Not sure if it's the mod's problem or a general problem with the update.

Can you check that with the mod author?  

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 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.


**File Locations on Mac OS X**
The executable and DLC folder are in Users/USER/Library/Application Support/Steam/SteamApps/common/Crusader Kings III/
To see it go to the Finder, hit command-shift-G (ie Go To) and type in ~/Library/ .
The user files (settings.txt, error logs, saved games, gfx, ... Read more

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 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.

If those don'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  

Hey @Lyndonblaster, I have confirmed that this issue only appears when loading/continuing an older save from before 1.6.0.
Unfortunately, due to the amount of changes to the map and content that go into each major patch, we cannot guarantee stability when continuing older saves from previous major patch version.

I would strongly recommend to start a new game for Fate of Iberia, in order to avoid this issue and any future ones that might come up.

Thank you for your report!  

If you revert to 1.5.1.1 in the Steam Betas tab for the game, does it start then?  

Steam should update the game to 1.6.0.1 for you. When that's happened do you still get this problem?  

That sounds like the launcher is now working, but you have a problem in the game. Is that right? Do you see launcher 2022.8 now?

What happens if you run ck3.exe directly?