Launcher Update - Unable to load skin

ZOS_Bill · July 2024

@bellanca6561n

We are glad to hear back that some of the troubleshooting posted has resolved this launcher error for you.

Shadows_Blade · July 2024

I mentioned to tech support that I was sometimes able to get in to the game by clicking on PLAY over and over again and they said that they were happy to hear that I had resolved the issue then closed my ticket. What the hell is wrong with these people? Nothing is resolved and I cannot get in at all now.

Shadows_Blade · July 2024

Those surveys expire before you can gather enough data to take a survey. I guess they only want to hear from people who benefitted from a quick fix and not from the ones who are still suffering.

Schattenspiel · August 2024

ZOS_Kraken wrote: »

@Schattenspiel I have sent you a forums message about your ticket.

Question Reference # 240728-004065 is the new, properly categorized, ticket. XD

ZOS_Phoenix · August 2024

@Schattenspiel

I have contacted you via PM regarding your ticket.

f15hb0wn · August 2024

I'm having the same issue. I also have a gen 13 Intel processor (i9-13900k) and dual NVIDIA RTX 4090's. Turning off Speedstep and Speedshift in BIOS didn't work for me. I was getting the error about 25% a few weeks ago and now it's closer to 90% of launch. I fully uninstalled Steam, ESO, killed ProgramData and AppData in every combination. The RNG that allows launch does seem to be improved if I run Intel Processor Diag Tool (as Durnik suggested.)

Also note that when I did a non-Steam/Windows installer, the error pops up on the installer preventing a full install.

I do have an open ticket (240731-004627) as of this morning and have uploaded all my diag files. I just wanted to include my experience to help others hitting the same wall.

ZOS_Bill · August 2024

@f15hb0wn

I've sent you a forum PM with an update on your current ticket.

f15hb0wn · August 2024

FYI, Uninstalling and reinstalling Windows Hypervisor Platform (WHP) in Windows Features fixed the issue for me.

Update: The error returned after a reboot. Opening another ticket now.

ZOS_Bill · August 2024

@f15hb0wn

You are welcome to share your new ticket number here.

Schattenspiel · August 2024

Disabling Speedstep and Speedshift works for me as a temporary workaround to start the launcher. When can we expect a launcher update to fix the problem so we don't have to cripple our machines to make the game work?

f15hb0wn · August 2024

ZOS_Bill wrote: »

@f15hb0wn

You are welcome to share your new ticket number here.

The ticket number is 240803-004885. As an update, MSI published a bios update including Intels patch for microcode issue on 8/2. I applied that last night and things aren't much better. Disabling the Speedstep/shift feature doesn't fix it on my MSI Godlike motherboard with Gen 13 intel processor. Also did Intel Diag and stress tests on the CPU, they all passed.

No idea why any of that affects the launcher skin with no impact to the actual game or system stability. I play plenty of games on this rig with no issues except this game launcher (not a problem with the game, just the launcher.)

Nothing ruins a gaming session more than spending 10 minutes trying to get the launcher to launch.

ZOS_Bill · August 2024

@f15hb0wn

Thanks for your ticket number. I've sent you a forum PM with an update.

Schattenspiel · August 2024

f15hb0wn wrote: »

ZOS_Bill wrote: »

@f15hb0wn

You are welcome to share your new ticket number here.

The ticket number is 240803-004885. As an update, MSI published a bios update including Intels patch for microcode issue on 8/2. I applied that last night and things aren't much better. Disabling the Speedstep/shift feature doesn't fix it on my MSI Godlike motherboard with Gen 13 intel processor. Also did Intel Diag and stress tests on the CPU, they all passed.

No idea why any of that affects the launcher skin with no impact to the actual game or system stability. I play plenty of games on this rig with no issues except this game launcher (not a problem with the game, just the launcher.)

Nothing ruins a gaming session more than spending 10 minutes trying to get the launcher to launch.

I keep asking for an ETA on when the launcher code will get fixed, and Support just keeps throwing Intel under the bus. *smh*

f15hb0wn · August 2024

I ran through all the hoops with Support with no joy (ticket is still open.) I even wiped the machine and only installed ESO to eliminate all software and configuration glitches.

I was poking around a bit and it appears that if CPU utilization if over 25% when I try to launch the launcher, it will launch consistently. There must be some calculation at boot that is running too quickly. It also explains why crippling the CPU by disabling processing enhancements (Speed Step, and Speed Shift) as @Daoin suggested or running Intel Processor Diagnostic (which stresses the CPU) as @Durnik suggested both band-aid the issue in most cases. In my case, the 5500MHz processor that is regularly at idle is too fast for the launcher even with speed enhancements (EIST, etc) disabled.

So what looked like a RNG was actually waiting for a second when CPU utilization was spiking from background tasks

tldr; - If your CPU is too fast to respond to Launchers init, it will give the "Unable to load skin" error. Hoping Support comes up with a better work around than crippling the CPU.

f15hb0wn · August 2024

Turning off Intel Turbo Boost in addition to SpeedStep and SpeedShift did fix the issue for me.

ZOS_Bill · August 2024

@f15hb0wn

We appreciate that you've shared the troubleshooting that ended up resolving this issue with the launcher.

Roxxsmom · August 2024

For the record, I have been encountering the same issue with the launcher intermittently for at least 2-3 months now, and it's been getting worse over the past week or so, often requiring a number of attempts to launch or not launching at all unless I go do something else on my computer then come back.

I have a 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-13900K processor, and an NVIDIA RTX 2060 GPU. I am running the game repair now to see if it helps.

I can get in by going to the folder where the game is located and clicking directly on the exe file to launch it, but I hope a better fix is incoming. I have not yet tried the suggestions re going into my windows settings to turn off things like speed step, turbo boost and so on. Not sure how to find these things to turn off, and as others have said I'd rather not have to do this to features that are supposed to be improving performance.

ZOS_Bill · August 2024

@Roxxsmom

Have you tried opening a support ticket yet?

Roxxsmom · September 2024

I'm going to need to open a ticket now, because I can't get into the game anymore via the client. As of today, I get a message telling me my client is outdated and to please exit and update my client using the patcher.

I have no idea how to do this. Where is the patcher and how do I access it from outside the game to update the client?

Also, how does one open a ticket from outside the game, since I can't even log in at all now?

ZOS_Bill · September 2024

@Roxxsmom

Please try using the following link here first and see if this allows you to start a ticket.

If you still cannot login, then use this link here.

Stridig · May 2

Having this issue with a new PC build. Nothing seems to work to even be able to install.

Melissa1414 · May 7

Ever since update 45 I have been getting this. Sometimes I get lucky and don't have to spam. Sadly, as of yesterday I can't get in at all. I tried EVERY SINGLE THING in multiple places that was suggested and nothing worked. It's the only steam game I am currently playing that has a launcher. All other games work. Even that crashy, stuttery Oblivion Remastered game opens without issue. I tried opening the game with eso64.exe but since I play through Steam no log in I use worked. The eso64.exe skips past the launcher and if I try the bethesda launcher I have to right click it and spam enter but again I don't have log in information. It must be a launcher issue and I wish they got rid of it.

S_Northman · May 14

Please read that
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/674955/summary-unable-to-load-skin-error#latest
This is I think the most exhaustive status on this bug.
And I reported two ways for passing by the problem.
Seems that the bug is due to power management both by Intel core i9 cpu and windows 11 24H2.

If your game installation is updated, the most simple way is to launch directly the client eso64.exe in the installation folder.
(possible that it doesn't work if you have the Steam version)

If not, go to the installation folder, launcher subfolder.
Then left_click on the Bethesda.net_Launcher.exe to select it (do not double click to start)
Then press and maintain the 'enter' key of the keyboard
Release it immediately when the launcher window begins to appear.
Then update the game with the launcher and perform a verification of the files.
Use the 'enter key' trick each time you want to play, it launching the client directly doesn't work (for Steam users)

If you don't have an installation yet, the problem is that the bug exists with the Steam installer, and also with the ESO installer which can be donwloaded in your ESO account.

The Steam installer will block after downloading the files, at the step to launch the setup.exe to finish the installation (in fact the unzip of the launcher works, but it fails to start just after).
I saw a report from one guy who managed to extract manually the launcher from the setup exe using 7zip (but I don't know how)

If you have the installer form your ESO account, you can't do nothing.
The only way I know is to contact the support, and ask for a zip file including the launcher.

I have a support ticket open on this issue
The support can't provide a solution.
The last message I have is 'we transmit your report to the developers'. No news since about 15 days or more.

S_Northman · May 14

Melissa1414 wrote: »

Ever since update 45 I have been getting this. Sometimes I get lucky and don't have to spam. Sadly, as of yesterday I can't get in at all. I tried EVERY SINGLE THING in multiple places that was suggested and nothing worked. It's the only steam game I am currently playing that has a launcher. All other games work. Even that crashy, stuttery Oblivion Remastered game opens without issue. I tried opening the game with eso64.exe but since I play through Steam no log in I use worked. The eso64.exe skips past the launcher and if I try the bethesda launcher I have to right click it and spam enter but again I don't have log in information. It must be a launcher issue and I wish they got rid of it.

In your case, it seems you have an installation working excepted that it is not updated.
And you have the game from Steam

Then you are forced to launch the game from the launcher (and not the eso64 client).

Try this each time you want to play:

go to the installation folder, launcher subfolder (in your steam game installation folder)
Then left-click on the Bethesda.net_Launcher.exe to select it (do not double click to start)
Then press and maintain the 'enter' key of the keyboard (with the mouse pointing on the launcher exe)
Release the key immediately when the launcher window begins to appear.
Then update the game with the launcher normally

Use the 'enter key' trick each time you want to play, if launching the client directly doesn't work

Generally, the launcher window will appear in 1 or 2 seconds.
Maybe you will have as well some 'unable to load skin' windows as well, but just ignore them.
You may close them after the launcher has started.

Let me know it the 'enter key' trick works for you.

You can try this as well, but it's not 100% successfull:
Reboot you PC
Enter your session
Immediately and quickly, open the Steam Client, and press PLAY for ESO (possibly several times)
With a little luck the launcher will start at the first or second click.

But if you begin to do something else in your session and wait for a few minutes, it will not work.

Could you tell me if you have an Intel core i9 CPU and if you have the W11 24H22 version ?

You can read this topic as well:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/306130/discussions/0/4342113141665069864/