5 Ways to Fix the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat Launch Error on Windows PCs

Easy Anti-Cheat is a program that prevents cheating for Elden Ring’s multiplayer mode. However, this program sometimes causes unwelcome startup issues for those games it’s required. The Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat launch error is one such issue players have reported on Reddit and elsewhere. That error throws up this message when players try to start Elden Ring, “Failed to initialize the game launcher.” This is how you can fix the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat launch error on a Windows PC.

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Delete Easy Anti-Cheat Files

One confirmed method for fixing the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat launch error is to erase (possibly corrupted) EAC files. Running a verification scan will replace those deleted EAC files. These are the steps for deleting the Easy Anti-Cheat files.

1. Go to the default Programs Files > Steam > steamapps > common > Elden Ring installation directory in File Explorer.
2. Open the EasyAntiCheat folder from the Elden Ring installation directory.
3. Select all the file and subfolder content inside the EasyAntiCheat folder.
4. Right-click and select Delete.
   
   

   The Delete option

5. Open your Steam gaming client to click on Library.
6. Right-click the Elden Ring game on the left side of the Library tab to select Properties.
7. Click Local Files and select the Verify integrity of game files option.
   
   

   The Verify integrity of game files option

Repair Easy Anti-Cheat

EAC has a repair option that could be useful for fixing the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat launch error. That option is available within the EAC setup window. You can select to repair Easy Anti-Cheat with that option like this.

1. Open the EasyAntiCheat folder as covered in the first couple of steps of the previous resolution.
2. Double-click the easyanticheat_eos_setup.exe file to open its window.
3. Select Elden Ring on the drop-down menu if you can see it there.
4. Click Repair Service in the Easy Anti-Cheat Service Setup window.
   
   

   The Repair Service option

Set the Start_protected_game file and Elden Rings game to Run With Admin Rights

Start_protected_game exe is a file that prepares the Easy Anti-Cheat service. Make sure that the file is set to run as administrator along with the Elden Ring game. This is how you can set those files to run with elevated privileges.

1. Bring up the Elden Ring installation directory as covered for other potential fixes above.
2. Open the Game subfolder.
   
   

   The Game subfolder

3. Right-click the start_protected_game exe file and select Properties.
4. Click Compatibility > Run this program as an administrator to select elevated privileges.
   
   

   The Compatibility tab

5. Select Apply > OK to set those options.
6. Repeat the previous three steps to set admin rights for the eldenring.exe file in the same folder.
7. Double-click the eldenring.exe file in its installation folder to start the game.

Disable the Overlay for Steam

1. Run the Steam app and select Library to access games.
2. Next, click Elden Ring with the right mouse button to select Properties.
3. Unselect the checkbox for the Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option.
   
   

   The Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game option

Disable Firewalls

Don’t rule out the possibility that a firewall block could be causing the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat error on your PC. To eliminate this possibility, temporarily disable Windows Defender Firewall before starting Elden Ring. This Microsoft page provides instructions for disabling that firewall in Windows. However, turn that firewall back on after playing the game if this potential resolution works.

The Windows Defender Firewall settings

Other Ways to Fix the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat Launch Error

If the Easy Anti-Cheat launch error still occurs, there are other troubleshooting methods you can try. These extra potential fixes for that EAC issue are worth a try:

• Enable and start the Easy Anti-Cheat service within Device Manager.
• Uninstall Epic Games if you have installed that gaming client.
• Remove unusual characters from your Steam username if it includes symbols, etc.
• Install all available patch updates for Windows by clicking Check for Windows updates on this Microsoft help page.
• Reinstall Elden Ring on your PC.

I hope one resolution above fixes the Elden Ring Easy Anti-Cheat launch error on your PC. Try applying those potential solutions before contacting the Namco support service for Elden Ring. You can submit a help ticket for this error by clicking Contact Us on this Namco help page.