If you're having problems on Steam, especially if you bought through FDev's site, this may help you.
This is for people who've tried other methods or parts of this method and still had no success. I don't claim this is the easiest or quickest fix, just what ended up working for me.
Note: I'm not a Lifetime owner, I joined during Horizons (buying on FDev store and linking key to Steam) and bought Odyssey on FDev store. I don't use the forums here much so if someone finds the better fix, post a comment for future viewers!
======================
Issues possibly fixed:
a) Existing install: Launching from Steam presents "UPDATE REQUIRED" every time and closes the launcher without Steam ever presenting you with an update even after verifying files
b) Fresh install: Steam doesn't install Odyssey on a new install and when you launch ED from Steam the Odyssey "INSTALL" button is disabled
======================
TL;DR ...
... 1) TRY to run EDLaunch.exe from
If that never seems to break the logjam:
... 2) Uninstall and reinstall ED. Yeah. That sucks. But 48 minutes to download beats 48 hours waiting for a support reply that probably tells me to try things I've already tried.
(optional) back up your bindings and graphics XMLs if you customize either and don't want to risk losing them. I'm not going to cover that here for the fact this is already a long post but you can find info on those in the forums.
But ... after that I found that the "Odyssey" option was still saying "INSTALL" and that button was disabled when launched from steam.
... 3) Go back to 1) ... run EDLaunch.exe from
This time the INSTALL button should be working
... 4) Click "INSTALL" ... it may flash a dialog window that disappears too quickly to read and then appear to freeze. Give it time ... mine took a good chunk of a minute but then the launcher was obviously starting to download the update.
... 5) (optional) if you backed up bindings and/or graphics settings, run the game once and exit it, then put your saved files in place.
Yes, that was really the TLDR.
I'm pasting a copy of what my support ticket looked like before I fixed it myself as the LONG version. Just to make it easier to explain the details in case you're not sure you're having the same problem.
======================
Notes: I WAS able to play Odyssey yesterday using Steam. Meaning yesterday Steam was able to see I own Odyssey.
I have 2 issues.
... First: I can't use Steam to launch ED. When I launch ED through Steam the launcher says "UPDATE REQUIRED" and closes. But no new update ever shows up through Steam. I've been patiently working this problem for over an hour now and and have completely restarted Steam many times.
Trying to launch manually, without Steam:
I also tried -deleting- EDLaunch.exe and forcing Steam to reinstall it via verifying files but it still gives the UPDATE REQUIRED after launching through Steam.
... Second: Even if I didn't have this "UPDATE REQUIRED" I see an "UPGRADE" for Odyssey mode. As in the launcher no longer see that I own Odyssey.
If I use the launcher through Steam (where the "UPDATE REQUIRED" message comes up but can't be fixed) then behind that error message I see the launcher there also has "Upgrade" as an option. So the launcher no longer thinks I own Odyssey.
I purchased ED, Horizons and Odyssey through FDev's store, but linked keys for ED and Horizons to Steam as per https://customersupport.frontier.co...-your-Frontier-account-to-your-Steam-account- a long time ago.
My account doesn't show a key for Odyssey on https://www.frontierstore.net/frontier_partnerkeys/ and, since I was able to log in yesterday, I assume this is all fine.
-------- REPORT AMMENDED ------
In an attempt to fix this myself, I:
Now when I launch from Steam I'm no longer seeing "UPDATE REQUIRED". BUT ... while it allows me to "PLAY" Horizons, Odyssey shows "INSTALL" but it is greyed out. So the Steam installer for a new install did not include Odyssey.
Launching manually via
FYI that I may have fixed this (will append when it is done installing) but you might want someone to investigate:
This process fixed my ability to play both manually launching and through Steam.
This is for people who've tried other methods or parts of this method and still had no success. I don't claim this is the easiest or quickest fix, just what ended up working for me.
Note: I'm not a Lifetime owner, I joined during Horizons (buying on FDev store and linking key to Steam) and bought Odyssey on FDev store. I don't use the forums here much so if someone finds the better fix, post a comment for future viewers!
======================
Issues possibly fixed:
a) Existing install: Launching from Steam presents "UPDATE REQUIRED" every time and closes the launcher without Steam ever presenting you with an update even after verifying files
b) Fresh install: Steam doesn't install Odyssey on a new install and when you launch ED from Steam the Odyssey "INSTALL" button is disabled
======================
TL;DR ...
... 1) TRY to run EDLaunch.exe from
steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous. If lucky you'll be able to force things to go through. Make sure to login as the manual launcher won't have your login cached from Steam. But this didn't work for me after many attempts.If that never seems to break the logjam:
... 2) Uninstall and reinstall ED. Yeah. That sucks. But 48 minutes to download beats 48 hours waiting for a support reply that probably tells me to try things I've already tried.
(optional) back up your bindings and graphics XMLs if you customize either and don't want to risk losing them. I'm not going to cover that here for the fact this is already a long post but you can find info on those in the forums.
But ... after that I found that the "Odyssey" option was still saying "INSTALL" and that button was disabled when launched from steam.
... 3) Go back to 1) ... run EDLaunch.exe from
steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous ... login again.This time the INSTALL button should be working
... 4) Click "INSTALL" ... it may flash a dialog window that disappears too quickly to read and then appear to freeze. Give it time ... mine took a good chunk of a minute but then the launcher was obviously starting to download the update.
... 5) (optional) if you backed up bindings and/or graphics settings, run the game once and exit it, then put your saved files in place.
Yes, that was really the TLDR.
I'm pasting a copy of what my support ticket looked like before I fixed it myself as the LONG version. Just to make it easier to explain the details in case you're not sure you're having the same problem.
======================
Notes: I WAS able to play Odyssey yesterday using Steam. Meaning yesterday Steam was able to see I own Odyssey.
I have 2 issues.
... First: I can't use Steam to launch ED. When I launch ED through Steam the launcher says "UPDATE REQUIRED" and closes. But no new update ever shows up through Steam. I've been patiently working this problem for over an hour now and and have completely restarted Steam many times.
- Got an upgrade through steam about an hour ago now
- Get an "Update Required" every time I launch from Steam
- Steam updates are set high priority
Trying to launch manually, without Steam:
- Launching C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous\edlaunch.exe and logging in gives me an 'Upgrade' button
- Clicking Upgrade briefly flashes a dialog that I can't read/capture before it disappears
- Launcher locks up and has to be closed via task manager
I also tried -deleting- EDLaunch.exe and forcing Steam to reinstall it via verifying files but it still gives the UPDATE REQUIRED after launching through Steam.
... Second: Even if I didn't have this "UPDATE REQUIRED" I see an "UPGRADE" for Odyssey mode. As in the launcher no longer see that I own Odyssey.
If I use the launcher through Steam (where the "UPDATE REQUIRED" message comes up but can't be fixed) then behind that error message I see the launcher there also has "Upgrade" as an option. So the launcher no longer thinks I own Odyssey.
I purchased ED, Horizons and Odyssey through FDev's store, but linked keys for ED and Horizons to Steam as per https://customersupport.frontier.co...-your-Frontier-account-to-your-Steam-account- a long time ago.
My account doesn't show a key for Odyssey on https://www.frontierstore.net/frontier_partnerkeys/ and, since I was able to log in yesterday, I assume this is all fine.
-------- REPORT AMMENDED ------
In an attempt to fix this myself, I:
- uninstalled ED through Steam
- manually deleted old Steam and %localappdata% directories after backing up configs
- installing through Steam.
Now when I launch from Steam I'm no longer seeing "UPDATE REQUIRED". BUT ... while it allows me to "PLAY" Horizons, Odyssey shows "INSTALL" but it is greyed out. So the Steam installer for a new install did not include Odyssey.
Launching manually via
E:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous\EDLaunch.exe allows me to click the "INSTALL" button for Odyssey (no longer greyed out). That seems to be working to install but there is a VERY long delay between clicking the button and it starting the install process.FYI that I may have fixed this (will append when it is done installing) but you might want someone to investigate:
- Why Steam install doesn't install Odyssey nor present even the option
- Why the launcher when installed from an EXISTING Steam install gives this repeating "UPDATE REQUIRED" error
- Why the launcher when from Steam FRESH inatall has "INSTALL" greyed out
- Why clicking on "INSTALL" from a manual EDLaunch.exe takes a very long time to show that the install is beginning, causing it to appear the launcher has frozen
This process fixed my ability to play both manually launching and through Steam.
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