Game won't boot properly unless I edit a filename (Steam)

[Aliyssia]

I believe this issue has been around before (aprox 2 years ago)

After clicking Play on Steam, the FFXIV launcher boots as normal, I log in using my account information and press Play on the launcher.
The game then boots into a black screen, and task manager will display FFXIV as 'Not responding', it will then crash without any error codes.

BUT....

If I edit 'steam_api64.dll' into anything else _after_ I've launched the launcher - the game will start as normal without issues.

This started happening again after the game got patched yesterday.
I'm glad the work around still works, but I'd like to report this issue regardless, because I'd like to play the game without constantly having to edit a filename...



If at all relevant:

-=-=-=-=-=-=- FFXIV Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

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-=-=-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

SYSTEM_OS Windows 10 Home 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (19041.vb_release.191206-1406)
SYSTEM_CPU AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 8-Core Processor (16 CPUs), ~3.0GHz
SYSTEM_CORE_NUM SYSTEM_CORE_LOGIC 16 SYSTEM_CORE_PHYSICS 8
SYSTEM_BIOS BIOS Date: 01/24/22 15:12:49 Ver: 05.00011
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SYSTEM_STORAGE C:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 232.404GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 72.262GB
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SYSTEM_STORAGE G:\ SYSTEM_HARDDISK_DRIVE SYSTEM_TOTALDISC_SPACE 931.496GB SYSTEM_FREEDISC_SPACE 258.308GB
SYSTEM_DIRECTX_VERSION DirectX 12
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GRAPHICS \\.\DISPLAY2 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
GRAPHICS_CHIP NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
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GRAPHICS_DISPLAY_MODE 2560 x 1440 (32 bit) (165Hz)
GRAPHICS_DRIVER C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdi.inf_amd64_a2eeb2756802bbd3\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdi.inf_amd64_a2eeb2756802bbd3\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdi.inf_amd64_a2eeb2756802bbd3\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvmdi.inf_amd64_a2eeb2756802bbd3\nvldumdx.dll
GRAPHICS_DRIVER_VERSION 32.00.0015.7270 3/3/2025 02:00:00
GRAPHICS_SHADER V:3.0 P:3.0
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SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.8703.1 5/14/2019 02:00:00
SOUND Headphones (2- Logitech G533 Gaming Headset) {D4DD6600-0ACE-438B-88AB-06E3C57F6A26}
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SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 8.98.201.0 3/8/2018 02:00:00
SOUND Realtek Digital Output (2- Realtek(R) Audio) {20120BDF-854E-4257-B4EE-16A8CE8D01B3}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME RTKVHD64.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 6.0.8703.1 5/14/2019 02:00:00
SOUND Speakers (Steam Streaming Speakers) {273D2105-B395-474E-9077-DF5FAEB81897}
SOUND_DEVICE_NAME SteamStreamingSpeakers.sys
SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 17.56.13.764 7/20/2017 02:00:00
SOUND VoiceMeeter Aux Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter AUX VAIO) {AEC3E464-52CA-4346-8AE9-4C30E823E116}
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SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 2.1.5.2 1/11/2019 02:00:00
SOUND VoiceMeeter Input (VB-Audio VoiceMeeter VAIO) {FA32BA54-B06B-470A-A255-9A48ECB42F3E}
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SOUND_DRIVER_VERSION 2.1.5.2 1/11/2019 02:00:00
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-=-=-=-=-=-=- Install Information -=-=-=-=-=-=-

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NVIDIA HD Audio Driver 1.4.3.2
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NVIDIA NVIDIA RTX Voice Driver 1.0.0.2
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[Qzthlxfpwm]

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

Please try the following:
- Try switching to DirectX 9 by selecting the ‘Config’ button on the launcher.
- Update and reinstall the drivers for your graphics card and sound drivers (if applicable).
- Perform a clean boot by opening the task manager and select the 'Start up' Tab. Disable
everything.
- Please be sure that Final Fantasy XIV is installed to the C: Drive.
- Please be sure to disable or remove any overlays (Discord, Steam, NVIDIA etc.) as they may
interfere with startup.
- Make sure that the Windows OS is fully updated.
- Reinstall game If steam version, try uninstalling and reinstalling both the game and steam)
- Verify installation files (Steam)

- Disable Full Screen Optimizations. To disable this, please find the "ffxiv_dx11.exe" and right click it
and select properties. Then under the compatibility tab there will be a check box labeled "Disable
Full Screen Optimizations". Check it and click apply.

- Open the Nvidia Control Panel and going to 'Manage 3D Settings'. From here, select 'Program
Settings' and select Final Fantasy XIV. You should see an option to select the GPU. Make sure it's set
to your dedicated graphics card (it may be set to 'Auto' by default).

Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!