Issue Importing Steam Games (Object Reference not set to an instance of an object) - FIX

[Alan Bun]

When importing games via Steam, I get the following error. This happens after Launchbox identifies the new games available for import (There were 4 of them), then when the progress bar along the top starts, it automatically gets this error message.

I can see that this issue was reported before, but was apparently fixed in an update in 2024. People also seemed to think it was an issue with their emulator, which isn't really the case here.

Strangely, I can import the games manually as Windows games and select nothing as the emulator. the game then technically works, but doesn't recognise it as a Steam game.

This is fine as a workaround, but I don't know why I'm suddenly getting this error.

 

Things I've tried to fix:

• Restarting PC
• Logging in and Out of Steam
• Moving the games to another location on my PC (I have 3 different locations my Steam games are installed. None of them work)
• Installed non-Steam games. I've imported PS2 & 3DS games which work fine. I've manually imported a Steam game as noted above, which also works fine.
• Ensured Launchbox is fully up to date.

 

Worth noting I've had Launchbox for years, so I have previously installed hundreds of Steam games, so this is a new issue and not because I'm trying to import Steam games for the first time.

 

EDIT: I managed to fix this while typing it up, and thought I'd share for anyone needing help:

I set up debugging, and noticed the following in the log:

 

2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM Saving Settings.xml...
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM Saving G:\LaunchBox\Data\Platforms\Windows.xml...
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM DataManager.SaveInternal completed successfully.
2025-12-09 02:55:18 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)

 

So I reimported the games, but unticked the option to look for a Steam Trailer, and it suddenly works fine.

 

Worth noting for anyone on the Launchbox Dev team, in case this is a particular issue with Steam Trailers that could be fixed in future updates.

[C-Beats]

27 minutes ago, Alan Bun said:

When importing games via Steam, I get the following error. This happens after Launchbox identifies the new games available for import (There were 4 of them), then when the progress bar along the top starts, it automatically gets this error message.

I can see that this issue was reported before, but was apparently fixed in an update in 2024. People also seemed to think it was an issue with their emulator, which isn't really the case here.

Strangely, I can import the games manually as Windows games and select nothing as the emulator. the game then technically works, but doesn't recognise it as a Steam game.

This is fine as a workaround, but I don't know why I'm suddenly getting this error.

 

Things I've tried to fix:

• Restarting PC
• Logging in and Out of Steam
• Moving the games to another location on my PC (I have 3 different locations my Steam games are installed. None of them work)
• Installed non-Steam games. I've imported PS2 & 3DS games which work fine. I've manually imported a Steam game as noted above, which also works fine.
• Ensured Launchbox is fully up to date.

 

Worth noting I've had Launchbox for years, so I have previously installed hundreds of Steam games, so this is a new issue and not because I'm trying to import Steam games for the first time.

 

EDIT: I managed to fix this while typing it up, and thought I'd share for anyone needing help:

I set up debugging, and noticed the following in the log:

 

2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM Saving Settings.xml...
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM Saving G:\LaunchBox\Data\Platforms\Windows.xml...
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)
2025-12-09 02:55:17 PM DataManager.SaveInternal completed successfully.
2025-12-09 02:55:18 PM FIRST CHANCE EXCEPTION: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows.SteamGame.GetTrailerVideoUrl(SteamGame game)

 

So I reimported the games, but unticked the option to look for a Steam Trailer, and it suddenly works fine.

 

Worth noting for anyone on the Launchbox Dev team, in case this is a particular issue with Steam Trailers that could be fixed in future updates.

Already resolved in the latest beta update.

[Alan Bun]

Ah, thanks. I didn't realise it was just the Beta update, as I've only got the official release for now. But good to know! and hopefully this post helps a couple of people before this change rolls out to the full release.