About the Paradox Launcher

[blatnoychelovek]

Hello, I was redirected here by tech support actually. It was from Stellaris v 2.5.0 and the game worked well on the old computer, where the hard drive died and I think I played after 2019.10.4 on the old computer. I bought a new computer recently. I use Steam and the launcher version 2019.10.4 starts but pressing play causes a crash after a wait of about ten seconds.

They told me to uninstall Stellaris, launcher, delete all the folders, etc... and I still got the same error. Then I remembered I had EUIV and CKII that I hadn't played in a while so I installed them and tried them, and EUIV doesn't start from the launcher, while CKII doesn't even start the launcher (if it has one). My computer is very new. System is Windows Pro 10 64 bit (10.0 Build 17753) and I'm trying to run all of these games without mods.

Then tech support told me to attach files from the launcher local folder. These were: launcher-bootstrapper log, launcher-dowser log, and cpatch log. I checked them too and saw lots of errors. They said that they passed it all on, but that I should come to this thread and post the problem here.

I have a feeling that they think that this is a launcher problem and they wash their hands of the whole thing. It took me a while to post because I wanted to read the thread. I only really have 1 or 2 hours to play a day (and these types of games are fine because you can pause and go do something else for 10 minutes), so I guess this thread has taken up my playtime for today. Well... maybe I can play Battletech for a little bit (which by the way works, but I don't think it uses the Paradox launcher).

I can post the contents of the cpatch.log like the other person, but it's a bit long and I think you might have that anyways by now.

Thanks!

 

[M@ni@c]

while CKII doesn't even start the launcher (if it has one).

CK2 doesn't use the new launcher.

 

[Deuterium Oxide]

Then I remembered I had EUIV and CKII that I hadn't played in a while so I installed them and tried them, and EUIV doesn't start from the launcher, while CKII doesn't even start the launcher (if it has one).

So, if I understand you correctly, the launcher actually starts for Stellaris and EUIV but when you press the "Play" button, the game crashes? Hm. The fact that CKII does not even reach its launcher (that is actually a part of the game and quite unrelated to the Paradox Launcher) before crashing tips me off to the fact that this really is unlikely to be a launcher issue.

However, and in order to leave no doubts, would you mind starting the Stellaris or EUIV game binary directly without invoking the launcher first? If they start without issue then - then we can conclude that the launcher might be the source of your problems. If not, then the games themselves simply won't run on your computer and all my efforts will be futile.

 

[blatnoychelovek]

Yes, I tired starting them from the directory without the launcher and get the same error (even when starting as administrator). They try installing DirectX every time and then crash. I don't know... if it's not a launcher problem, then it seems to be a problem with every Paradox Grand Strategy game. Endless Space 2 works just fine along with Galactic Civilizations III (and that one also has a launcher). Maybe the graphics card is too new or something. Well anyways, if it's a problem with all those games, then at least I reported it to the Stellaris team, although they seem to think it's the launcher's fault after looking at the logs. So I'll just wait I suppose and meanwhile will hold off on buying any PDX stuff despite the sales.

 

[Deuterium Oxide]

... they seem to think it's the launcher's fault after looking at the logs.

This is unfortunate. I'll have a word with the Stellaris team. In the meanwhile, you could contact the CK team - they should be responsive

 

[Wedlor]

O almighty launcher developers, descend from your highest mountain to my humble hut in this topic https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/stellaris-launcher-wont-run.1267960/ and help solving the problem that the new version of it doesn't start at all
Thanks in advance!

 

[Deuterium Oxide]

O almighty launcher developers, descend from your highest mountain to my humble hut in this topic https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/index.php?threads/stellaris-launcher-wont-run.1267960/ and help solving the problem that the new version of it doesn't start at all
Thanks in advance!

We'll have a look at it, but weekend is upon us and realistically expect no answer until Monday at the earliest. I'll have to scrounge up someone that can read Russian as well, but that should be doable

 

[Wedlor]

We'll have a look at it, but weekend is upon us and realistically expect no answer until Monday at the earliest. I'll have to scrounge up someone that can read Russian as well, but that should be doable

No problem at all. and russian is not needed. Main moments are in english.

 

[Scottbert]

The most pressing issue is the mod list -- the lack of scrollbar, and the lack of a way to automatically sort the mods so that they load in the 2.3 order (Alphabetical? Reverse alphabetical?)
I'm also hearing that "outdated" mods won't load without hacking, and if that's true that also needs to be fixed -- it should be the player's choice whether to take that risk, especially since we all know "outdated" means nothing unless the modded content was actually changed.
You've mentioned a scrollbar is on the way but 'will take a long time to get through QA' -- that's a bit grating, as it implies that the original launcher made it through QA without these issues being noticed. But what about the other things?
It should be as easy to use as the old launcher, at a minimum. Right now it's a serious downgrade and is preventing me from playing Stellaris. (That one guy's python script doesn't work for me.)

 

[onlyhereifsomethingbreaks]

TLDR: Stellaris launched fine then 90mins later will not launch with the - Paradox Launcher cannot be opened because of a problem.

Mac user (Mojave, don't want to lose 90+% of my Software to Catalina), Steam, No mods or anything fancy. Playing since launch and never had any issues.

Here's one for you. Launched Stellaris in Steam for the first time in a while. New launcher/interfact (shrugs), make a new race and play for 30 mins (nice spot). Quit and make fajitas and eat (second one too spicy, you live and you learn).

Come back an hour and a half later and Steam will not launch Stellaris - "Paradox Launcher cannot be opened because of a problem". What changed in those 90mins!?! Was my fajita so spicy that it caused a bug in Stellaris?

Restarted Steam, the Mac, verified the game files and other basic checks - no luck. Launches without a problems from the application - no longer loads via Steam. HoI4 launches fine from inside Steam. Odd.

Crash Report Attached.

 

[kaelis69]

@Deuterium Oxide Yea I was wrong then and I apologize! But so far I've not run into a single issue using the 2.3.3 rollback. Ive tried to use the new launcher with 2.5 and 2.4 and 2.4.1 and I've had 0 luck getting it to work after even alphabetizing my mod list. For me the mods seem to be activating properly I just cant get the game to launch with mods period. I try using just one, NSC Season 4, and that mod works fine with a legacy version for 2.3.3 but the 2.5 version doesn't even allow it to launch. Im currently having a blast but I'm not able to use the Lithoid pack with 2.3.3 for obvious reasons. I hope everyone over at PDX got some good rest last night and I thank yinz for all your hard work!!

I am in the same boat except no mod problems. I can't get the launcher to stay up. If it starts it will crash within 10 seconds. I have already uninstalled the game and started over. Didn't work. Good thing I have enough other games to keep me occupied while waiting for this debacle to be fixed. It does mean I won't spend ANY more money on anything Paradox until I can successfully launch Stellaris with the launcher. I was looking forward to Bloodlines too.


Edit - I am on Steam. Windows 10. Acer Predator 300 laptop. Launcher version 2.5.0. I have been having this problem of the launcher crashing since 2.4.0. I have rolled back to 2.3.3 and have no problems playing the game and using mods so the problem is DEFINITELY the launcher because if I hit the resume or play button soon enough I can play Stellaris, just not the way I want to.

 

[RoverStorm]

@Deuterium Oxide

I have been directed by @AndrewT to bring up a launcher issue I'm experiencing to the actual launcher devs. I'm launching Stellaris through Steam, and have used a custom userdir.txt to redirect the user directory to a not-full hard drive (D) because my OS drive (C) is full on memory. However, for some reason, some features of the launcher are ignoring the userdir.txt and are continuing to use my "default directory". My evidence for this is that some of the files that are SUPPOSED to be in the address at userdir.txt are instead at what it considers the default directory. And yes I already tried copying all files from the "default" into the "userdir.txt" and it fixed nothing. Even though it stores and accesses stuff at the default directory, nothing in there WORKS anyways. Putting mods there still won't let them turn on, and for some reason it also stops the workshop mods from working too.

Functionally this means that, while connected to the internet, Stellaris will boot BUT never loads mods, the resume button never shows up, and some settings (I've forgotten by now) don't do anything.

However, presumably because my C drive is full, the "default directory" it's using is a cloud service. This is extremely bad because it won't launch if I go offline while traveling, and the cloud service is unavailable. This is also why I can't "just use the cloud service", because I frequently play offline.

I've spent hours trying to fix this. I've followed all instructions they've recommended. Paradox stuff already has full security access. I have tried reinstalling over twenty times, I've reinstalled the launcher, I've reinstalled ALL paradox games, just nothing works! The Stellaris tech support have basically said they can't do anything from the Stellaris end and sent me here.

EDIT: I should also clarify this is a 64 bit machine running windows 10.

 

[Wedlor]

Time to replace new launcher with old one? And do some mass beta-testing before release?

 

[RoverStorm]

Time to replace new launcher with old one? And do some mass beta-testing before release?

I mean if it works for 98% of people, why force a roll back for all of them just because 2% can't play? All that they "need" to do for those of us with launcher issues is the ability to opt-out of the new launcher until these issues are fixed. My great frustration is that we've had bugfixes, balance changes, and most relevantly a new DLC released post-new launcher, which means rolling back to 2.3.X means I'm not getting the new content I paid for.

 

[Grouchio]

@Deuterium Oxide The biggest issue I have with the new Stellaris Launcher is that my 150+ mods are no longer alphabetized. If that option can be opted back into the launcher that would be great.

 

[kekar]

Why is the MP desync problems not even addressed, yet?..

 

[AndrewT]

Why is the MP desync problems not even addressed, yet?..

MP play of any given game has nothing to do with the launcher. You should post in that game's specific forum.

 

[OneirosCC]

When I try to open Stellaris from Steam the following happens with the launcher. I REALLY would like to play Stellaris again but this bs happens... I am getting really annoyed by it. The last launcher worked very well for me and now this....
Asked Google for solutions already and nothing helped so far. Hope you can help.

 

[AndrewT]

When I try to open Stellaris from Steam the following happens with the launcher. I REALLY would like to play Stellaris again but this bs happens... I am getting really annoyed by it. The last launcher worked very well for me and now this....
Asked Google for solutions already and nothing helped so far. Hope you can help.

Please try this:

- exit the Steam app completely

- run steam.exe as the Windows Admin user

- run the game from the PLAY button in Steam

Is that any better?

 

[OneirosCC]

Unfortunately that changes nothing. Very same very dead launcher. Can't even move the window around.

I just tried on my laptop and there it works fine ut it doesn't manage more than one day a second and Stellaris is not really playable when a year takes 6 minutes without pausing... I'll try reinstalling Steam this evening when I am home again. So you can expect another status report in about 7 hours I guess.