Should not happen of course, depends on where the crash happens to troubleshoot further, used mods, etc.
To simplify finding a solution I've attached my current mod setup via zip file.
Just extract the content of the folder into your main XCOM 2 game directory, e.g. C:\GOG Games\XCOM 2

Bear in mind that these mods as the instructions above are meant for War of the Chosen - I as of yet I did not test this with the base game.
This way we eliminate editing errors, if it works you can build from there using the example structure provided.

Edit: Attachment is missing... Checking...
Edit 2: As it appears currently, I can only wait for the file to show up. Would have been so simple...
Edit 3: For now I borrow Discord as file sharing helper, the file is uploaded here as well:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/454107146116792335/689933407064555551/XCOM_2_WotC_Mods.zip

Seems like the file structure is exactly the same as for the Steam files. Thank you for your help! The 'No Reveal Cinematics' sounds like I mod that I might want, so I should go find it.

It's good to see a turn-based strategy game on sci-fi.
Although I bought it on Steam, I'm happy that players can now play DRM-free from here.

I still get a startup crash, see attached .png.

Reverse the changes you made and see if it still crashes. Then look for the issue.

It only crashes when I make any modifications to that .iini. Game works flawlessly otherwise (without mods being ran).

Then maybe you got outdated mods or broke the game in some other way.

Did you use the folder the mods are in or the folder inside that one? You gotta take the one thats inside of that. Weirdly enough, mods come in 2 folders, 1 inside the other.

Good luck.

My folder structure is:

/...
(i) Mods
(ii) [Name of mod]
(iii) Files with .XComMod <- DefaultModOptions.ini uses the name from this without the extension.

My mods are not outdated, I only tested a few (incl. Community Highlander, Mod Config Menu, Stop Wasting My Time WOTC) and they are the latest downloads from Steam Workshop (downloaded via a Steam downloader).

I've searched the web for your error message, what apparently helps is resetting the config files to clear old remnants by renaming the Config folder:

In your Documents folder;
My Games\XCOM2 War of the Chosen\XComGame\Config

Also some folks had issues with outdated mods.

If I were you, I'd rename that folder, empty/rename the Mods folder in
C:\GOG Games\XCOM 2\XCom2-WarOfTheChosen\XComGame\Mods

and unpack that ZIP file again into C:\GOG Games\XCOM 2

Then you'd be on par with my config, of which I can attest that it works.

Try what Midoryu said. Tho it worked for me as it normally should. I hope you can enjoy your game soon.

The screenshots are rubbish and don't tell us what the games about.
Is this a top down strategy or a FPS? We don't know because there's only silly cinematic poses.

That sounds like the sort of information that belongs in a readme file.


lol @ the state of GoG forums down repping helpful advice.

I was all set to get this, then I saw the sizes of the main game and the expansion...approx 100 Gb? I checked under the downloads section of MaGog and it appears about right. can anyone confirm?

68.9 Gb for XCOM 2 with all DLCs.

Thanks for that Cyril21. is that the download size (compressed) or the final install size?

That is the offline installer.