Game will not launch during shader compilation

Match the symptom

Shader compilation prevents the game from launching.

Check before changing your save

Record the startup message and whether failure occurs before the menu; distinguish this from an apartment loading crash.

1. Confirm Steam has completed all available updates.
2. Record the startup message and whether failure occurs before the menu; distinguish this from an apartment loading crash.
3. Let Steam complete updates before retesting; avoid downloading unofficial shader-fix executables.

Official fix versus your current save

The developer's Update 5 note establishes a historical fix for this symptom. It does not publish a universal recovery command or prove that a previously damaged save will repair itself. This guide has not independently retested your save.

Recovery decision

Let Steam complete updates before retesting; avoid downloading unofficial shader-fix executables.

1. If the installed game is older than the named patch, update and retest the same action.
2. If the issue persists, try an existing known-good save without overwriting the failing one.
3. If it repeats, report startup, the exact objective, installed build and reproduction steps to the developer's Steam discussion board.