Aristos
Lightseeker
@Aristos after some patch in June I can't get that process to work anymore (bypassing the launcher) -- it still launches with the launcher. That's why I suggested the other method (the game went to a place where it was literally hard crashing my entire Win 10 system until eliminating the startup bloat -- and I agree, it's irresponsible for any game to do this).
If there is a way to newly bypass the launcher let me know, I'm game.
Strange, I am happily bypassing the stupid launcher both in Civ 5 and Civ 6 without any issue, with the same old, proven method stated in that thread.
I wonder if you have your Steam folder inside Program Files? Big NO-NO.