Support/Troubleshooting/Game won’t start: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:46, 19 December 2025

This page helps if clicking Launch in Steam briefly changes to Running and then back to Launch without opening the game.

If you see a crash or error message (for example “Fatal error!”), or if crash files are created, this is likely a game crash. Please see Support/Troubleshooting/Crashes instead.

Step 1: Try the quick checks

Before doing anything else, try the following:

Verify game files in Steam

 Right-click the game in Steam → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity

Restart your computer
Make sure Windows and your GPU drivers are up to date

If the game still does not start, continue below.

Step 2: Check antivirus or security software

If Out of Ore does not open and no crash message appears, the most common cause is third-party antivirus or security software blocking the game.

This can happen silently, without showing any warning or error message. In these cases, the game may briefly appear in Task Manager and then immediately close.

Known problematic software

The following software has been confirmed to cause issues in some cases:

Comodo Antivirus
AVG
Avast
Bitdefinder

For a more complete list, see Support/Troubleshooting/Incompatible software.

What to do

Recommended option: Some third-party antivirus software may interfere with Out of Ore. If you are comfortable doing so, you may temporarily uninstall third-party antivirus software and rely on Windows Defender, which is included with Windows.

Windows Defender provides built-in protection and is sufficient for many users.

Alternative option: If you prefer to keep your antivirus software:

Add the entire Out of Ore installation folder as an exception / trusted application
Restart your computer
Launch the game again

Step 3: Additional checks

If the game still does not start:

Try launching the game directly from the installation folder
Temporarily disable antivirus software and test again
Verify that all game files are present by using Steam’s file verification.
- Missing or quarantined files (for example DLL files) are usually restored by this process.

Still having problems?

If the game still does not start after trying the steps above, the best place to get help is our Discord server.

Please post your issue in the game-help forum channel, where other players and the development team can help investigate the problem.

Discord server: https://discord.gg/nmc
Game help forum: https://discord.com/channels/463319805311582208/1251084151243804713

When posting, please include the following information if possible:

Windows version
GPU model
Installed antivirus or security software
What happens when you click Launch in Steam

Providing this information helps us and other players help you much faster.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=== Symptoms ===
+This page helps if clicking '''Launch''' in Steam briefly changes to '''Running''' and then back to '''Launch''' without opening the game.
-One or more of the following may happen:
-* Clicking '''Launch''' in Steam briefly changes the button to '''Running''', then it returns to '''Launch'''
-* The game window never opens
-* No error message is shown
-* No log files or folders are created in ''AppData''
-=== Most common cause: antivirus or security software ===
+'''If you see a crash or error message (for example “Fatal error!”), or if crash files are created, this is likely a game crash.'''
+Please see [[Support/Troubleshooting/Crashes]] instead.
-Some third-party antivirus programs may incorrectly block '''Out of Ore''' from starting.
+== Step 1: Try the quick checks ==
-This can happen '''silently''', without showing a warning or error message.
+Before doing anything else, try the following:
-Antivirus software known to cause this issue includes (but is not limited to):
+* Verify game files in Steam
-* '''Comodo Antivirus'''
+  <small>Right-click the game in Steam → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity</small>
-* '''AVG'''
+* Restart your computer
-* '''Avast'''
+* Make sure Windows and your GPU drivers are up to date
-* '''Bitdefender'''
+If the game still does not start, continue below.
+== Step 2: Check antivirus or security software ==
+If Out of Ore does not open and no crash message appears, the most common cause is third-party antivirus or security software blocking the game.
+This can happen '''silently''', without showing any warning or error message.
+In these cases, the game may briefly appear in Task Manager and then immediately close.
+=== Known problematic software ===
+The following software has been confirmed to cause issues in some cases:
+* Comodo Antivirus
+* AVG
+* Avast
+* Bitdefinder
+For a more complete list, see [[Support/Troubleshooting/Incompatible software]].
 === What to do ===
-==== Option A – Recommended ====
+'''Recommended option:'''
-Uninstall third-party antivirus software and use '''Windows Defender''', which is built into Windows and works well with Out of Ore.
+Some third-party antivirus software may interfere with Out of Ore.
+If you are comfortable doing so, you may temporarily uninstall third-party antivirus software and rely on '''Windows Defender''', which is included with Windows.
-<small>Running multiple antivirus programs at the same time can cause conflicts and false positives.</small>
+<small>Windows Defender provides built-in protection and is sufficient for many users.</small>
-==== Option B – Keep your antivirus ====
+'''Alternative option:'''
 If you prefer to keep your antivirus software:
 * Add the '''entire Out of Ore installation folder''' as an exception / trusted application
@@ Line 29: / Line 42: @@
 * Launch the game again
-=== Additional checks ===
+== Step 3: Additional checks ==
-If the game still does not start, try the following:
+If the game still does not start:
-* Verify game files in Steam
-  <small>(Right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity)</small>
+* Try launching the game directly from the installation folder
-* Launch the game '''directly from the installation folder'''
 * Temporarily disable antivirus software and test again
-* Make sure Windows and your GPU drivers are up to date
+* Verify that all game files are present by using Steam’s file verification.
-* Try launching with this Steam launch option:
+** Missing or quarantined files (for example DLL files) are usually restored by this process.
-<pre>
--d3d11
-</pre>
 == Still having problems? ==
-If none of the steps above help, please contact us and include the following information if possible:
+If the game still does not start after trying the steps above, the best place to get help is our Discord server.
+Please post your issue in the '''game-help''' forum channel, where other players and the development team can help investigate the problem.
+* Discord server: https://discord.gg/nmc
+* Game help forum: https://discord.com/channels/463319805311582208/1251084151243804713
+When posting, please include the following information if possible:
 * Windows version
 * GPU model
-* Any antivirus or security software installed
+* Installed antivirus or security software
-* What happens when you try to launch the game
+* What happens when you click '''Launch''' in Steam
-This helps us identify the problem much faster.
+Providing this information helps us and other players help you much faster.