Fix: Cities Skylines Stuck on Loading Screen

Cities: Skylines is a popular city-building simulation video game developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive. However, some players have reported issues with the game not launching or not loading on their PC. If you are facing a similar problem, don’t worry. In this troubleshooting guide, we will explore various solutions to help you fix the Cities Skylines won’t launch issue.

Why Won’t Cities Skylines Launch?

Cities Skylines, like any other PC game, can encounter bugs and connectivity errors. It is important to understand that the game itself may have its own fair share of issues. However, sometimes the problem lies with your PC or the configuration of your system. Outdated game patches, graphics drivers, Windows builds, missing or corrupted game files, and issues with Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable are some common culprits behind the game not launching or loading properly.

Fix: Cities Skylines Not Loading on PC

Here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow to resolve the Cities Skylines not loading or launching issue on your PC:

1. Check System Requirements

First and foremost, ensure that your PC meets the minimum system requirements to run Cities Skylines. Incompatible hardware can often cause issues with game launching. Here are the minimum and recommended system requirements for Cities Skylines:

Minimum Requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo, 3.0GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+, 3.2GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, 512 MB or ATI Radeon HD 5670, 512 MB (Does not support Intel Integrated Graphics Cards)
• DirectX: Version 9.0c
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 4 GB available space

Recommended Requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Microsoft Windows 7/8 (64-bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-3470, 3.20GHz or AMD FX-6300, 3.5Ghz
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660, 2 GB or AMD Radeon HD 7870, 2 GB (Does not support Intel Integrated Graphics Cards)
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 4 GB available space

Make sure your PC meets these requirements before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps.

2. Run the game as an Administrator

Running the game as an administrator can sometimes resolve issues with game launching or startup crashing. To do this:

1. Right-click on the Cities Skylines exe shortcut file on your PC.
2. Select “Properties” and click on the “Compatibility” tab.
3. Check the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox.
4. Click “Apply” and then select “OK” to save changes.

3. Verify Integrity of Game Files

If your game files become corrupted or missing, verifying and repairing the game files using the game launcher can help resolve the issue. Here’s how you can do it for Steam and Epic clients:

For Steam Client:

1. Launch Steam and click on “Library”.
2. Right-click on Cities Skylines from the list of installed games.
3. Click on “Properties” and go to “Local Files”.
4. Click on “Verify Integrity of Game Files” and wait for the process to complete.
5. Once done, restart your computer.

For Epic Client:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher.
2. Go to the Library section.
3. Click on the three dots next to Cities Skylines and select “Verify”.
4. Wait for the process to complete.
5. Once done, restart your computer.

4. Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

Updating Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable can help resolve compatibility issues with Cities Skylines. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the following path on your PC: C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonSteamworks Shared_CommonRedistvcredist
2. Run all the executable files present in the folders: 2012vcredist.x64.exe, 2013vcredist.x64.exe, and 2019vc_redist.x64.exe.
3. If you have different folders, run the vc_redist.x64.exe file in those folders.
4. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

5. Update DirectX

Updating DirectX can help fix compatibility issues with Cities Skylines. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonSteamworks Shared_CommonRedistDirectX folder path.
2. Run the DXSETUP.exe file to reinstall or update DirectX.
3. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

6. Update GPU Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers can cause issues with game launching. Follow these steps to update your GPU drivers:

1. Press Windows + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
2. Click on “Device Manager” and double-click on “Display adapters”.
3. Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that’s active.
4. Select “Update driver” and choose to “Search automatically for drivers”.
5. If an update is available, the system will automatically download and install it.
6. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

7. Disable Overlay Apps

Disabling overlay apps like Xbox or Discord can sometimes resolve game launching issues. These apps may conflict with the game processes or system resources. Try disabling them and check if the game launches properly.

8. Install All Pending Windows Updates

Installing all pending Windows updates can help resolve compatibility issues between the operating system and the game. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press Windows + I keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
2. Click on “Update & Security” and select “Check for updates” under the Windows Update section.
3. If there is a feature update available, select “Download and install”.
4. Wait for the installation process to complete.
5. Restart your PC to apply the changes.

9. Disable Antivirus and Firewall Program

Antivirus and firewall programs can sometimes interfere with game launching. Temporarily disable them to check if they are causing the issue. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click on the Start menu and type “Control Panel”.
2. Open Control Panel and search for “firewall”.
3. Click on “Windows Firewall” and select “Turn Windows Firewall on or off”.
4. Turn off Windows Firewall for the Private, Domain, and Public Network Settings.
5. Restart your PC and check if the game launches properly.

If you are using a third-party antivirus program, make sure to turn it off manually.

10. Launch the Game in Windowed Mode (Steam)

Launching the game in windowed display mode can help resolve issues with the fullscreen display mode, especially on computers with average hardware. Here’s how to do it in the Steam client:

1. Open the Steam client and go to Library.
2. Right-click on Cities Skylines and select Properties.
3. In the General section, click on “Set Launch Options”.
4. Copy and paste the following command-line argument: -windowed -noborder
5. Save the changes and try running the game again.

11. Perform a Clean Boot

Performing a clean boot can help identify if any third-party software or services are causing conflicts with the game. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “msconfig” and hit Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. Go to the Services tab and enable the “Hide all Microsoft services” checkbox.
4. Click on “Disable all” and then click on Apply and OK to save changes.
5. Go to the Startup tab and click on “Open Task Manager”.
6. Under the Startup tab in Task Manager, disable the high-impact startup programs one by one.
7. Restart your PC to apply the changes.
8. Check if the Cities Skylines won’t launch issue has been resolved.

12. Close Background Processes

Closing unnecessary background processes can help free up system resources and improve game launching. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
2. Click on the Processes tab and select the tasks that you want to close.
3. Click on “End Task” for each selected task.
4. Restart your computer to see if the game launches properly.

13. Reset Cities Skylines

Resetting Cities Skylines can help fix issues related to game files or configurations. Here’s how to do it:

1. Press the Windows (Start) + X keys to open the Quick Link Menu.
2. Select “Apps and Features” and click on Cities Skylines from the list of installed programs.
3. Click on “Advanced options” and select “Reset”.
4. Restart your computer and try launching the game.

14. Reinstall Cities Skylines

If none of the above methods work, you can try reinstalling Cities Skylines to resolve the game not launching issue. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch the Steam client on your computer.
2. Go to Library, right-click on Cities Skylines, and select “Uninstall”.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Open the Steam client again and install the game using your existing Steam account.
6. Launch the game and check if it launches properly now.

We hope these troubleshooting steps help you fix the Cities Skylines won’t launch or not loading issue on your PC. If you have any further queries, feel free to comment below. Happy city building!

Additional Information:

• It’s always a good idea to keep your PC and graphics drivers up to date to ensure the smooth running of games.
• If you experience any other issues with Cities Skylines, such as crashing or audio problems, refer to the relevant troubleshooting guides available online.
• Joining forums or communities dedicated to Cities Skylines can provide helpful insights and solutions from experienced players.
• Remember to back up your game saves and important files before performing any troubleshooting steps to avoid data loss.