[2023] The dreaded "Exit Code 3221226505"

That 0xc000007b error usually means missing or bad Microsoft modules, often Visual C++.

In Windows Control Panel then need to uninstall VC++ 2010 AND 2015/17/19/22 , there may be several instances of each.

THEN have them Install ALL these Microsoft modules:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26999
And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=52685
And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads
And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

THEN run this Windows repair tool:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-au...er-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

Good luck!  

Do you still get the 0xc000007b error when you run eu4.exe directly?

If so, I'm afraid this is a bit of work, but please delete this list of files (about 50 in total)

C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mfc100.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mfc100u.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcp100.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcr100.dll
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msvcr100_clr0400.dll *
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\xinput1 3.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mfc100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\mfc100u.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcp100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcr100.dll
C:\Windows\System32\msvcr100 clr0400.dll *
C:\Windows\System32\xinput1 3.dll

* you may need to change user permissions on these two files before you can delete them. If they won't delete, don't worry about them

PLUS all files that fit the pattern d3dx9_??.dll in both those folders; usually about 20 in each.


Then run those installers above again, PLUS

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

www.microsoft.com (run dxsetup.exe after extracting this download to its own folder anywhere on your computer)

If that still doesn't help, there's a Windows problem here that's beyond me to fix. Probably a Windows Reset or clean wipe and reinstall would be needed I'm afraid!