[2023] The game closes with an error after clicking the Start Game button in the launcher

I think this was resolved in our most recent hotfix, released earlier in the day. Could you try playing now?

Edit: If the hotfix hasn’t helped, you should be able to work around this by:

Delete Darktide AppData & Verify Integrity of Game Files

NOTE: This will reset any custom keybindings.

1. Press the Windows key + R
2. Enter %appdata% within the search input and select ‘OK’
3. Navigate to: AppData\Roaming\Fatshark
4. Delete the entire ‘Darktide’ directory
5. Launch Darktide as normal

You will then need to use the ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’ option, which is accessible via the Steam client and will ensure the installation is complete.

1. Right-click Darktide in your Steam library sidebar
2. Select ‘Properties’
3. Select the ‘Local Files’ tab
4. Select the ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’ button
5. When complete, close and reopen Steam

NOTE: If Steam Cloud saving is enabled for Darktide, this may automatically restore the AppData and consequently cause the error to resurface. You can disable Steam Cloud Saving for Darktide via the Steam client by:

1. Navigate to your Steam library
2. Right-click Darktide
3. Select ‘Properties’
4. On the ‘General’ tab, scroll down to ‘Steam Cloud’
5. Disable ‘Keep game saves in the Steam Cloud for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide’