Sometimes, the issue is on your end. Corrupted download cache files within the Steam client, antivirus software blocking the game's access to the internet, or DNS issues preventing a solid connection to Steam servers can all trigger this freeze.
Close the launcher and restart the game. The "Validating" screen should now resolve itself almost instantly with an "OK" button. 3. Clear Corrupt Profile Files
In an ideal world, this takes three to five seconds. In practice, due to bloat, corruption, or server desyncs, it can stretch into an infinite loop.
Once you relaunch the game, the validation process should whiz past because there are zero subscriptions to validate. If this works, you can re-add mods slowly (one or two at a time) to identify the problematic one. age of empires 2 hd edition validating subscriptions
If you are currently stuck on the screen, try these immediate commands: Keyboard Shortcut
Remember the hierarchy of fixes:
The frustration stems from the fact that the error can be caused by issues completely outside the player's control. Generally, the causes fall into three categories: Sometimes, the issue is on your end
If mods aren’t the issue, your core game files might be damaged.
While there is no single "magic button" to fix this due to the variable nature of the cause, there is a hierarchy of troubleshooting steps you should follow.
To understand the fix, one must first understand the architecture of the HD Edition on Steam. Unlike the original 1999 CD-ROM version, which was a self-contained install, the HD Edition relies heavily on Steam’s "Cloud" and "Subscription" infrastructure. The "Validating" screen should now resolve itself almost
A window will appear asking you to agree to the . Check the box to Accept/Agree and hit OK .
"If you already own HD Edition, the game underneath is a 10/10. But the 'Validating Subscriptions' bug is a 0/10 user experience. You will spend more time reading forum posts about deleting mod folders than actually playing. Unless you are committed to curating a tiny mod list, just buy the Definitive Edition. It makes this problem disappear forever."