Can't Get Game to Launch

Can you restart steam to see if that clears up your issue?

What about validating your files.

It fixed itself.  Validating files didn't work, but had to reboot for some updates and after the reboot it worked.  Guess the patch didn't take hold until the reboot or something lol.  Anyway, thanks for the responses guys.

Having the same problem, but unlike above doesn't seem to be fixing itself. Haven't used the launcher before - had taken a break for some other games - and the launcher works with Offworld Trading Company. However, GalCiv3 just keeps saying it is preparing to launch, then going back to the launcher.

I tried validating game files (apparently all present) and rebooting the computer (didn't help). Even tried launching directly from the executable (which just launches the launcher).

Just got a friend of mine to buy this three days ago and is working fine for her, but not for me all of the sudden.

@djvandebrake, Go to this troubleshooting guide, if you don't see anything there that helps, go to the bottom of it and follow the link to open a support ticket with development.

Thanks. I had recently installed Uplay for another game and apparently that was it. At least, it is working now!

Hello fellow GalCivIII Commanders.

I'm still having an issue starting the game in Steam. Same issue as above "When I click play it pops up the little "preparing to launch gal civ" box and then kicks right back to the launcher.  Never starts.  Anybody know how to fix this?"

I'm holding off purchasing the "Intrigue Expansion" until I can get the game to load. I have Version 2.80 update installed under the game's Beta tab in the Steam client. Please help! Thanks in advance.

Did it work before?  If so, when did it change?

You could undo the Beta thing since the 2.8 beta is old news with 3.0 release out there.