Sid Meier’s Civilization VII or Civilization 7 is the latest 4X turn-based strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K. Although this game offers an excellent art style and incredible soundtrack, many players report that they are unable to start the game whatsoever. This problem can occur due to several reasons including missing or corrupted game files, compatibility issues, or software glitches. Thankfully, there are several possible workarounds you can try to get this issue fixed. Check out and try all the methods mentioned in this comprehensive guide.
How to Fix Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Unable to Start the Game
It is definitely a frustrating issue when you are unable to start the game at all, especially when you are eager to build the greatest empire. But do not worry; try all the potential solutions mentioned below.
1. Update Your Graphics Drivers
Outdated GPU drivers can be the root cause of this issue so the very first solution we suggest is to update your graphics drivers. For this, you will need to visit the official website of your GPU manufacturer and download the latest drivers. Make sure to reboot your PC once after updating your graphics drivers.
2. Run the Game as an Administrator
Sometimes, the game requires the necessary permissions to launch the game smoothly on your device. If it doesn’t have sufficient permissions, you might not be able to start the game. Here is how you can do it:
- Go to the folder where the game is installed on your PC
- Find its executable (.exe) file and right-click on it
- Then, select Properties >> Compatibility tab
- Check Run this program as an administrator
- Once done, click on Apply >> Ok
- Relaunch the game and check if you are able to start the game.
3. Check for Missing AVX2 CPU Support
Some CPUs do not support the AVX2 instruction set and that can prevent the game from starting. So, the next solution many players suggest is to check for any missing AVX2 CPU support.
Check CPU AVX2 support in Steam:
- Open Steam
- Click Help >> System Information
- Look for AVX2: Supported/Unsupported.
If your CPU does NOT support AVX2: The game might not work unless the developers release a patch so try upgrading your CPU if it is an older model.
If your CPU supports AVX2: The issue is likely something else and in that case, try other solutions.
4. Repair Missing or Corrupted Game Files
Any missing or corrupted game files can cause several issues and errors while accessing the game, so this is one of the classic solutions to fix the Civilization 7 launching issue. Here is how you can do it on Steam.
- Go to Steam Library
- Right-click on the game and select Properties
- Click on the Local Files
- And then click “Verify integrity of game files”
- Wait for some time until the process completes, then restart Steam, and relaunch the game.
5. Disable Steam Overlay & Other Overlays
Steam Overlay or other overlays like NVIDIA Overlay, or Discord Overlay may also conflict with the game so try disabling all of them and then relaunch the game.
Disable Steam Overlay: Go to Steam >> Library >> Right-click on the game >> Properties >> General tab >> Uncheck Enable Steam Overlay while in-game. Once done, restart Steam and relaunch the game.
Disable NVIDIA/Discord Overlay: Go to Settings on NVIDIA GeForce Experience or Discord and disable in-game overlay.
6. Change DirectX Version (DX12 or Vulkan)
This game might not be launching if it has a conflict between DirectX 12 and Vulkan. If you have no idea how to do it, here are the steps:
- Go to Steam and find Civilization 7
- Right-click on it and go to Properties
- Go to the General tab >> Launch Options
- Try one of the following commands:
- To force DirectX 12: -dx12
- To force Vulkan: -vulkan
- Close the window and then relaunch the game.
7. Reinstall the Game
If you have already tried all of the above methods and are still experiencing the same issue, your last option is to uninstall the game completely from your device and then reinstall the game.
That’s all you can try fixing Civilization 7 unable to start the game.
