[2020] Having a Problem with the Steam Version (clear box and closure).

Hello folks! My cadre of misfits and miscreants need a bit of help.

We suckered a friend of mine to come to play Fallout 76 with us, and he got a steam edition Monday. Game pre-downloaded, the whole jazz and all. Double clicked the game, it starts up, gives him a clear box, then just closes. No error, no fuss. Just a clean close.

Now I've had him go through his folders looking for an ini file, you know the Fallout76prefs ini? See if its a window glitch. It's not there. In fact, he verified the cache twice, reinstalled both 76 and Steam, and the first-time startup opens a clear box, then just closes. There isn't even an exe to run the game from.

Is the Steam install borked? Because again re-installing and verifying has gotten us zilch. Anyone else got ideas?

SUPER EARLY UPDATE - He doesn't have the Bethesda Launcher, could THAT be a problem?