New Internet, Game Doesn't Launch.

FaylenSol · March 2022

Happy days I just got Fiber Internet! A huge upgrade from tethering from my cellphone!

However for whatever reason when I hit "Play" nothing happens. Was working fine yesterday on my tethered cellphone internet. Is there a known issue with fiber internet and ESO or something special I need to do with this game when swapping internet providers?

FaylenSol · March 2022

I have tried verifying files. I've deleted user settings file in Documents and verified. I have also tried reinstalling the game.

I've also made sure my drivers are up to date and updated my OS. Hardware wise I am running this:

11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700K @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
16.0 GB (15.9 GB usable)
Geforce GTX 1660 Ti

I'm only having issues with ESO. I can play other online games no problem so far. The launcher just sits with the "Play" button greyed out after clicking it like this:

Edit: Small update, but inconvenient. If I connect to my phone for tethering to launch the game it works. I just unplug my phone after. I'd prefer to not have to do this if there is a known fix.

ixthUA · March 2022

Just a note, path to login server can be different between tether and fiber. You can get login server address with windows resource monitor, then use WinMTR to track path on tether and fiber, maybe problem is with fiber pathing.

JanTanhide · March 2022

If I missed the info forgive me. What server? This is directly from the Launcher. Correct? Not through Steam.

I don't use Steam for ESO so I'm not sure what it looks like for ESO.

Have you gone to the ESO folder and tried to start the game by double clicking the ESO64.exe file?

I would try the exe next to see if it works.

There are a few files stored in ESO that record the "route" taken to the game server when it runs. I can't remember where those files are atm but if you delete them and start the game from the Launcher it will find a new best path to the mega server.

the elder scrolls online/game/client/eso64.exe for my pc.

JanTanhide · March 2022

Oh, almost forgot. When you run the game the first time it has to get through the Windows Firewall. Well, sometimes that popup window is behind lets say...the Launcher window so you cannot see it to click on it to allow it to access the internet.

I've had this happen quite a few times in games including ESO in the past. Suggest moving the Launcher window off to one side when you click on Play and see if you get a Windows Firewall popup you have to allow for access. I think you will get two of these in a row for access to the Internet. Good luck!

FaylenSol · March 2022

From what I've gathered I think my router is blocking the game. I don't see any obvious settings within it to allow ESO through outside of opening ports.

But this is mostly a guess after a lot of process of elimination.

JanTanhide · March 2022

If it's the router try DMZing the PC you have ESO on just to check. If it works then you are most likely correct. But you don't want to leave the PC DMZ'd forever. Too open to attacks from the Internet.

ZOS_Bill · March 2022

Two additional steps you can take that may help with your launcher are checking anti-virus settings and deleting the program data. Steps for doing each are listed below.

Create an Anti-virus or Firewall Exception for ESO

Each antivirus program is different and we recommend that you view the antivirus developer's website for full instructions on how to add exceptions.

The application files that may require exceptions are:

Bethesda.net_launcher: C:\Program Files (x86)\ZenimaxOnline\Launcher
ESO.exe: C:\Program Files (x86)\ZenimaxOnline\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client\eso.exe
Steam.exe: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steam.exe

Some antivirus programs require entire folders to be selected instead of a single file.When this is the case, the file paths below are what you should use. If required by the anti-virus program, include all subfolders since every file is critical to run the game.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\

Delete the Program Data

Close the ESO Launcher.
Navigate to the patch installation folder,
By default, this folder will be located here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\Launcher\ProgramData.
Locate and delete the ProgramData folder.
Restart the ESO Launcher.

Please let us know if either of these steps allows the Play button to work in your launcher.

etchedpixels · March 2022

The other possibility is that you've been assigned an address that was previously owned by a bad actor and is being blocked by an intermediary or DDOS protection service. If so then getting your provider to change your address might help.