Launcher fails to launch game...

[ItalyJay]

So, I'm trying to run Stellaris through Steam. The launcher starts up, I click on PLAY and I get the following error:

"An error occurred

Launching the game failed. Please verify the integrity of your game files. If you are using Window, you may also need to install Visual C++ Redistributable and .Net Framework."

But the game launches perfect if I go into the Steam folder for Stellaris and click on the Stellaris Application file (Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Stellaris).

Clicking on Resume in the launcher creates the same error.

I'm guessing the error has something to do with the launcher. Any fixes?

 

[AndrewT]

Ah, that is usually an antivirus app getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

stellaris.exe and dowser.exe (in the Steam Stellaris folder)
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2022.9/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT stellaris.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

Then the game should run from Steam/our launcher, and enable all the DLCs.

 

[ItalyJay]

Ah, that is usually an antivirus app getting in the way. What antivirus app do you use? You need to make sure all these apps are in its exceptions lists:

stellaris.exe and dowser.exe (in the Steam Stellaris folder)
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/launcher-v2.2022.9/paradox launcher.exe
C:/users/<UserName>/AppData/Local/Programs/Paradox Interactive/bootstrapper-v2.exe

IF that doesn't help, also set each of those .exe files (EXCEPT stellaris.exe !) to run as the Windows Admin user.

Then the game should run from Steam/our launcher, and enable all the DLCs.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm using Window's standard security for anti-virus and firewall. Once I selected Paradox Launcher, Bootstrapper, and Dowser to run as admin it started up fine. I didn't have the launcher and bootstrapper in my exceptions list. However, while I don't see dowser in the exceptions list Windows says it is in the list already when I try and add it. Which I thought was odd. Maybe it's listed under a different name? I looked through the whole list but didn't see anything similar.

Anyways, it works now. Thank you.