SOLUTION: fixed by copying the ini files from support/app into the root folder!

The game shows a loading screen with progress bar that starts moving quickly, but slow down exponentially and gets stuck forever near the end.

I tried different versions of proton and wine from 5 to 7, always the same result. I did install the game through Heroic launcher, could that be the reason?

Did anyone solve this problem?

Just looked into logfile.log and saw the probable reason:

[subsystem] Error: Tried to open file: "z:\games\heroic\the guild 2 - renaissance\input.ini" that doesnŽt exist!
[Subsystem] InputGameModule : File not found : Input.ini
[Subsystem] cl_SimulationController : No 'SimulationFrameLength' found, using default.
[Subsystem] [string "scripts/gamestate/gamestartup.lua"]:32: attempt to index local `Options' (a nil value)
[subsystem] Could not Find/Disable Module "CameraCtrl"!!

It seems to depend on windows case-insensitive directory name! Also it should use disk C instead of the wine Z disk...

SOLVED instantly by copying the ini files from support/app into the root folder!