I pre-loaded the game, via GOG Downloader, installed the 1.01 patch and Windoes returns me APPCRASH. Was this not tested before launch? Ubisoft usually pulls these tricks and if I knew it was going to be the same I would not have pre-ordered. Here are my specs:

SO: Windows 7 64 bit
AMD Phenom II X4 965
AMD Radeon 7970 3 GB
12 GB RAM
Lots of free hard drive space

Running the latest drivers.

I had the same last night right around launch time. The only way I managed to fix it was by actually having to launch the game through Galaxy. Weirdly enough after that the version was 1.02 not 1.01. But asked a friend who doesn't have Galaxy at all, and for him just the patch unlocked the game correctly.

So the question is, do you have GOG Galaxy installed? I think I saw a few threads here in the subforums saying it can cause some problems. Sadly am at work, so won't be able to help much with troubleshooting. :\

I used to have Galaxy installed, but I didn0t liked it so I ununstalled, prior to the game pre-load. I just sent a support ticket. Game compannies relly too much on forums where users have the burden of helping out themselves.

Yeah I agree. Then you might have trouble because of it, apparently clean uninstalls are a thing of the past as well. Let's hope your support ticket gets resolved in a timely fashion :)

I have the same problem (pre-downloaded + updated to 1.0.1 and the game even wont load -> crash error) and also submitted a ticket but still didnt receive any "non-automated" answer yet (its been 4 hours now...)

This is first time I use GOG (with galaxy, as normal download didnt work), and it didnt place any icon on my desktop, only way I can start the game is from Galaxy, is that ok/normal please?

Aha.. found the post by accident:

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/the_witcher_3_wont_start_up/post64

You might want to try this Megaknight :9

As for you Khrawa, this'll probably not help, as you are using Galaxy.

You can find the executable in the folder you installed to, that is \\gamedir\bin\x64\witcher.exe

Have you tried all the steps here? I helped fix for 10 people at least

1) If you have GOG Galaxy Client, uninstall it.

2) Then click start button -> type "cmd" -> right click "cmd.exe" and click "run as administrator"

Type :

sc delete GalaxyClientService
sc delete GalaxyCommunication

So the GOG background services are removed from you PC.

3) Then,
Go to the game folder / bin / x64 and delete or rename galaxy.dll... Launch the game, a error dialog will pop out but the game actually runs.

4) If all fails, reboot PC, some found this worked for some of us.

i have this problem when lunch set up say impossibile found the file whitout gogcom

I would say it matches the other files by file name, so you need to rename the exe and remove the (2) from the filename.

Thx for the infos guys, I'll try it in the evening, when Im back from work.

My game will crash as soon as the first cut screen is over. Found an crashlog in \bin\x64 which states

"EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (3221225477), Error writing location 0x00000000"

Followed by a bunch of lines that all end in "<unkown file>(0)"


Get that shit sorted out. I'll check back in a few days.

Dude you are my heroe, after spending many hours for solution, you solution worked.
Nice job CDP, can put galaxy app, in the trash bin

For me the solutions dont work i still have the error.

sadly, for some people this problem still remains. with or whitout galaxy.