Anyone else shown this message upon starting the game (v2.0.0.1) in Windows 8.1:

"The program can't start because XINPUT1_3.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix the problem."

I'm back to desktop after clicking OK.

Now, I do appreciate that I could grab a copy of the file from one of the shady websites but I'm more interested in the original problem, of the game not installing the dll on its own, being fixed. Anyone know why is the file missing?

Download and install this - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109 Because you don't have DirectX 9 installed.

Step by step installation
1. click on download and save the file "directx_Jun2010_redist.exe" wherever you wish.
2. double-click on directx_Jun2010_redist.exe, it will ask you where to extract files, I recommend creating a new folder
3. go to where you extracted it, find dxsetup.exe and run it by double click
4. finish the installation and it's done.

Many users reported that ‘Xinput1_3.dll is missing’ error message appears especially when a game or software is launched.

I personally encountered this error on my Windows computer and search around the web to find the best fix for this issue. Based on my research and the users’ comments I have listed some solutions to fix this error. Try the following methods one by one down the list until your error is not fixed.

1. Restart the Computer
2. Update Microsoft DirectX
3. Install DirectX For the Problematic Program
4. Uninstall and Reinstall the game or program
5. Restore the XINPUT1_3.dll file
6. Import the Xinput1_3.dll from another Computer
7. Update Game Controller Drivers
8. Perform System Restore

For, more information: https://www.devicetricks.com/unable-to-execute-file-in-the-temporary-directory/?fbclid=IwAR0YB14nr4zFzjevz40bg9rsyF0RfmfeZQDgBoLWHVhNpgM1HSDJ1wEPoS8

That’s all, you have successfully fixed the Xinput1_3.dll is missing error. Let us know in the comment section which method worked for you?