Error: "Steam must be running to play this game. SteamAPI_Init() failed."

Jordan89 · 03-15-2024, 01:08 PM

I had been playing OOTP 24 on my Steam Deck and it worked great so I bought OOTP 25 right away when it was released on Steam today, but when I try to launch it, I just get error message that says "Steam must be running to play this game. SteamAPI_Init() failed." and the game won't open. I tried going to the desktop mode and launching it from the Steam app there, but the same thing happens.

Lukas Berger · 03-15-2024, 01:12 PM

I would suggest restarting your system, that should hopefully reset Steam.

Excalibur · 03-15-2024, 01:17 PM

Same issue here, I believe it's due to the lack of Linux native support. Proton not working either

Lukas Berger · 03-15-2024, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur

Same issue here, I believe it's due to the lack of Linux native support. Proton not working either

Yeah, sorry didn't see that this was Linux at first.

naterg1 · 03-15-2024, 02:03 PM

Isn’t it supposed to work with Proton? I remember reading that on the boards. I’m having this same issue.

ThePymonster · 03-15-2024, 02:11 PM

Same issue here on Linux with Proton - game window appears but is totally black, a separate pop-up modal gives the SteamAPI_Init() error, when I click OK on that the game closes.

Lukas Berger · 03-15-2024, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naterg1

Isn’t it supposed to work with Proton? I remember reading that on the boards. I’m having this same issue.

It did when we tested, but something must have changed

wimi · 03-15-2024, 02:55 PM

I could swear it said OOTP25 had Linux support just a few days ago. Because of that I had a hard time to decide between Steam or website. OOTP24 I bought twice to get Linux support, so never looked today when I got it through Steam.

I hope it get solved soon.

hawkmoon · 03-15-2024, 05:44 PM

From the log file, something up with the process id.

pid 188006 != 188005, skipping destruction (fork without exec?)

Creepy21 · 03-15-2024, 06:22 PM

I am getting the same issue, but i play on a steam deck. works fine on my laptop though.

hawkmoon · 03-15-2024, 09:26 PM

Is your Laptop a window or Linux machine?

danoldlib · 03-15-2024, 09:29 PM

Having the same issue on Linux machine running the game with proton experimental.

Creepy21 · 03-16-2024, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkmoon

Is your Laptop a window or Linux machine?

No its windows based. the steam deck is linux though i believe?

Brucedoh · 03-16-2024, 08:56 AM

Bummer. Picked this up this morning when I saw the steam release, assuming it would work on Deck as previous versions did. None of the proton versions seemed to work.

hawkmoon · 03-16-2024, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creepy21

No its windows based. the steam deck is linux though i believe?

Yes, the Steam deck is Arch Linux.

Dale Gribble · 03-17-2024, 11:39 AM

I'm having the same issue. Waiting for a fix. 24 still works just fine.

Creepy21 · 03-18-2024, 08:12 AM

The delay allowed me to finish another season in my offline. Yankees win another world series. The rockies fired me so I landed in NY who I hate, but its hard to say no to unlimited budgets and success. Please make this pain stop. I feel like I am working for the devil. curse you Steinbrenner!

Arlie Rahn · 03-18-2024, 03:22 PM

I have the same error on Windows 11. It's a PC with a web filter and crowdstrike, but OOTP24 works fine on it. Whenever I try to play OOTP25 on it, I get that "Steam must be running" message and it errors out.

Brucedoh · 03-20-2024, 07:53 AM

I am so horny for this game. Any plans/eta for a fix?

Markus Heinsohn · 03-20-2024, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arlie Rahn

I have the same error on Windows 11. It's a PC with a web filter and crowdstrike, but OOTP24 works fine on it. Whenever I try to play OOTP25 on it, I get that "Steam must be running" message and it errors out.

If you get this on a Windows system, restarting Steam should definitely fix this. If not, please PM me.

03-15-2024, 01:08 PM	#1
Jordan89 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 3	Error: "Steam must be running to play this game. SteamAPI_Init() failed." I had been playing OOTP 24 on my Steam Deck and it worked great so I bought OOTP 25 right away when it was released on Steam today, but when I try to launch it, I just get error message that says "Steam must be running to play this game. SteamAPI_Init() failed." and the game won't open. I tried going to the desktop mode and launching it from the Steam app there, but the same thing happens.

03-15-2024, 01:12 PM	#2
Lukas Berger OOTP Developments Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Nice, Côte d'Azur, France Posts: 21,249	I would suggest restarting your system, that should hopefully reset Steam. __________________ lukas@ootpdevelopments.com PreOrder Out of the Park Baseball 26! Need to upload files for us to check out? Instructions can be found here

03-15-2024, 05:44 PM	#9
hawkmoon Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 4	pid problems? From the log file, something up with the process id. pid 188006 != 188005, skipping destruction (fork without exec?)

03-18-2024, 03:22 PM	#18
Arlie Rahn All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 564	I have the same error on Windows 11. It's a PC with a web filter and crowdstrike, but OOTP24 works fine on it. Whenever I try to play OOTP25 on it, I get that "Steam must be running" message and it errors out. __________________ Developer of Bowl Bound College Football http://www.greydogsoftware.com

03-15-2024, 01:17 PM	#3
Excalibur Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 7	Same issue here, I believe it's due to the lack of Linux native support. Proton not working either

03-15-2024, 02:03 PM	#5
naterg1 Major Leagues Join Date: May 2009 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 381	Isn’t it supposed to work with Proton? I remember reading that on the boards. I’m having this same issue.

03-15-2024, 02:11 PM	#6
ThePymonster Bat Boy Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 5	Same issue here on Linux with Proton - game window appears but is totally black, a separate pop-up modal gives the SteamAPI_Init() error, when I click OK on that the game closes.

03-15-2024, 02:55 PM	#8
wimi Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Karlstad, Sweden Posts: 15	I could swear it said OOTP25 had Linux support just a few days ago. Because of that I had a hard time to decide between Steam or website. OOTP24 I bought twice to get Linux support, so never looked today when I got it through Steam. I hope it get solved soon.

03-15-2024, 06:22 PM	#10
Creepy21 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: NY, USA Posts: 8	I am getting the same issue, but i play on a steam deck. works fine on my laptop though.

03-15-2024, 09:26 PM	#11
hawkmoon Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 4	Is your Laptop a window or Linux machine?

03-15-2024, 09:29 PM	#12
danoldlib Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 5	Having the same issue on Linux machine running the game with proton experimental.

03-16-2024, 08:56 AM	#14
Brucedoh Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 2	Bummer. Picked this up this morning when I saw the steam release, assuming it would work on Deck as previous versions did. None of the proton versions seemed to work.

03-17-2024, 11:39 AM	#16
Dale Gribble Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 4	I'm having the same issue. Waiting for a fix. 24 still works just fine.

03-18-2024, 08:12 AM	#17
Creepy21 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: NY, USA Posts: 8	The delay allowed me to finish another season in my offline. Yankees win another world series. The rockies fired me so I landed in NY who I hate, but its hard to say no to unlimited budgets and success. Please make this pain stop. I feel like I am working for the devil. curse you Steinbrenner!

03-20-2024, 07:53 AM	#19
Brucedoh Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2024 Posts: 2	I am so horny for this game. Any plans/eta for a fix?