[2023] Game does not launch from Steam

From what you say this is a launcher problem, not a game issue. If you run eu4.exe and hoi4.exe directly from file explorer, do they start okay?

In this folder are some .log files:
C:/users/{userName}/AppData/Local/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2/
Please attach them here.
To see the AppData folder you'll need to enable View Hidden Items in File Explorer.  

CellarFiend said: However running eu4.exe generates the following error (Steam is definitely running on my machine) - see attached file

That is normal for EU4 when run that way. When you OK that message does the game start up alright?


We see no significant errors in those logs. That you can launch the games but the launcher cannot, usually an antivirus app is getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

hoi4.exe and dowser.exe (in the Steam HOI4 folder)
C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2023.16/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/{username}/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT hoi4.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

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

CellarFiend said: Ah ha! thank you. Yes my OS is old, but since the launcher does not add anything useful I think this is bit....

Well, Steam will stop supporting obsolete Windows versions too, next month I believe. There's no reason for the launcher to support them after that!