[2023] Launcher "Failed To Update MetaData"

I honestly don't know what is causing that to you. What launcher version do you see? Current is 2023.4.1

What if you exit Steam then run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user?

If that doesn't help, can you connect this machine to the internet via a VPN (or failing that a mobile phone hotspot) to see if that gets past it?  

Mods being installed cannot have any effect on the launcher.

It is not at all clear why the server is rejecting your launcher's attempts to contact it. If you have been running a VPN all the time, can you try disconnecting it ?


Otherwise try uninstalling the launcher, then install it with this updated one:
https://launcher.paradoxinteractive.com/v2/paradox-launcher-installer-windows  

This game is no longer supported in the standalone launcher platform; if you installed it there you'd get an older version.

It must be installed and play via Steam I'm afraid.