[2021] Stellaris Won't Start

Please Install ALL these Microsoft modules:

Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable Update 3 RC from Official Microsoft Download Center

www.microsoft.com

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

www.microsoft.com (run dxsetup.exe after extracting from this download)

THEN go here:

The latest supported Visual C++ downloads

This article lists the download links for the latest versions of Visual C++. support.microsoft.com And run the x86 and x64 installers there.

Add stellaris.exe to the exceptions list of your antivirus app; ESPECIALLY if you have Windows Defender, add it to the Ransomware "Apps Allowed Through" list.

Also if you have FRAPS or the MSI Gaming App or Rivatuner installed, disable it as it clashes with this game.


If they don't help, exit the Steam app entirely then run stellaris.exe by itself. Do you see any Windows error then?  

Some mod errors in that error log: unsubscribe from ALL mods in the Steam Workshop for this game, and delete the documents/paradox/stellaris/mod/ folder.

Is there a settings.txt file in the same place as pdx_setting.txt is?

And in the logs folder is there an exceptions.log?  

Moved to Tech Support