Steps taken so far: * Verify game files via steam * Full reinstall and verify game files * Full reinstall onto another storage device (SSD) and verify game files * Full system data corruption scan (chkdsk) * Memory checked via memtest86+ This is on a new system which runs other games (Cyberpunk, Baldur's gate, Diablo 4, Path of Exile) perfectly fine. Process monitor (from sysinternals) shows that it stops around packages\w64_ui_startup_unp1_0.pkg, which is validated by the active_packages crash log file: ---Loaded package--- Name: packages\w64_client_bootstrap_unp1_0.pkg In use: yes Size: 2146 Built by content farm: yes Package ID: 258 Package Version: 0-0 Build string: 117519 ---Loaded package--- Name: packages\w64_ui_startup_unp1_0.pkg In use: yes Size: 2245 Built by content farm: yes Package ID: 256 Package Version: 0-0 Build string: 116870 ---Loaded package--- Name: packages\w64_ui_bootflow_unp1_0.pkg In use: yes Size: 2685 Built by content farm: yes Package ID: 257 Package Version: 0-0 Build string: 116870 build_repro_info: Build: 117519.23.07.26.1701.v500_live.main___release Branch: v500_live.main Game type: tiger_release_final Content Revision: 0 Content Build: 117519 Content Untracked: 0