[ATTN TOM] GameEx 19.55 Issue Returning to GameEx after Steam Game Closes

[AntiVerified]

I was following a previous topic about steam where there were issues with GameEx returning to quickly after the launch of a steam game. That topic got resolved and that is fair because that particular issue does seem to have been resolved. However, my issue with GameEx not getting focus back after closing seems to have been brought up in that thread as well and while the user that was working with Tom on it had it resolved, it seems to be persisting for me. I updated to 19.55 to see if that would help and it's still present. I compared the log file of the successful user that they posted to mine and I seem to be adding a lot of extra and unhelpful processes to wait for, compared to them. I have included a couple of bat files I also use when steam launches and closes to manage a virtual joystick mappers I use and to kill its process as cleanup afterwards. ( I needed to use a completely separate mapper for SF IV as an example). Hopefully I have provided enough detail and all the files needed.

log.txt BasicControl.bat KillJoy.bat GameEx.ini

[Draco1962]

Can you attempt the process without the .bat files, advise if the issue persists or not, and updated GameEx.ini and log.txt files?

[AntiVerified]

Thanks for the quick response and great troubleshooting suggestion. Still not returning to gameex, there is still a bunch of extra processes it's picking up on.

GameEx.ini log.txt

[Draco1962]

10 hours ago, AntiVerified said:

Thanks for the quick response and great troubleshooting suggestion. Still not returning to gameex, there is still a bunch of extra processes it's picking up on.

GameEx.ini 138.15 kB · 0 downloads log.txt 29.23 kB · 0 downloads

Are those processes indicated in the log or external to it? If external, can you provide names/examples?

[AntiVerified]

1 hour ago, Draco1962 said:

Are those processes indicated in the log or external to it? If external, can you provide names/examples?

In the log, at the end because since gameex doesn’t return I kill it in task manager and so the log ends at “Adding process to wait for: {multiple lines with multiple processes}”

[Draco1962]

Gotcha, thanks! I didn't have a chance to look at the log and see what you are saying. BTW, thanks for testing without the batch files running. @Tom Speirs will definitely need to take a look at this.

[Tom Speirs]

I think I can see the issue (other than the batch file). Please replace the attached and post the log.

GameEx.zip

[AntiVerified]

2 hours ago, Tom Speirs said:

I think I can see the issue (other than the batch file). Please replace the attached and post the log.

GameEx.zip 1.32 MB · 1 download

I should have mentioned that I was using AE, but it occurred to me before I posted an AE run log to launch the original executable and modify its preferences to remove my batch calls. It initially had some success, but the issue seemed to resurface after a few tries while was trying to get a clean test. 

log.txt

[Tom Speirs]

Thanks. Please try this one and let me know,

GameEx.zip

[AntiVerified]

This seems like a tough one because the behaviour and what happens in the log files seems somewhat inconsistent. I tried loading a game and closing it multiple times and it worked for the first couple (minus my bat files configured to run in preferences) times but then I eventually got to one that did not return to gameex. You can see in the logs files that the processes being added to wait for vary.

log.txt

[Draco1962]

Steam game Boomerang Fu (965680) shows as the only game in the log that was opened, and I assume it is the one that did not return to GameEx.

[Tom Speirs]

What Draco is trying to say is we need more diagnostic data to fix. Thanks.

[AntiVerified]

Boomerang Fu has been the one that I have been testing, but I am happy to provide any data needed. I have the logs for 3 other games attached, 20XX, 30XX and Tricky Towers. 30XX is the only one that had some success in that it returned the first time but then stalled out on the second attempt. This is what I refer to as being tough because the log shows that the processes to wait for are different between the two attempts with the same game. @Draco1962 your assessment is correct and for the most part, the logs are going to only have one game because they don't return to gameex and so I have to kill the process which also terminates logging at that point. If it does return, I tend to test the same game over again, particularly to see if the results change, which they seem to be.

@Tom Speirs your product is amazing and I have been using it for awhile flawlessly, especially with Steam. I understand that the root of what has happened is because of the change to how Steam does their overlay and I appreciate that you have been trying to get things working smoothly again.

20XX_log.txt 30XX_log.txt Tricky_Towers_log.txt

[Tom Speirs]

Thank you for the compliments and your help. That is much more helpful.

It is just a case of adding exclusions for things that stay open such as MS edge.

Please try attached:

 

 

GameEx.zip

[AntiVerified]

On 12/1/2025 at 6:27 AM, Tom Speirs said:

Thank you for the compliments and your help. That is much more helpful.

It is just a case of adding exclusions for things that stay open such as MS edge.

Please try attached:

 

 

GameEx.zip 1.32 MB · 2 downloads

Thanks Tom, I attached logs for two games I re-attempted. Game input service seems to be a m$ component and I imagine the Unity Crash Handler will affect multiple games made with Unity. I might be asking for the moon here, but would there be a way to provide something in the setup wizard for a user to define a comma or semi-colon separated list of exclusions that GameEx is able to load? I ask because people's PCs might be struggling with different stuff and it could offload the troubleshooting and excluding to users. This is particularly pertinent for me because I utilize the "Launch Before" field which loads various virtual controllers depending on the steam game and its compatibility. Just a thought. I just know that I'm going to have to fight with my own batch files even after all this is said and done.

19.58_30XX_Log.txt 19.58_Boomerang_Fu_Log.txt

[Draco1962]

Just a hunch and maybe off base, but first, are you running these games with the batch files vs. not when testing? If so, try testing the same games over again. If no errors, then the issue could be a process launched via your "Launch Before" that needs to be killed via "Launch After." 

If I am incorrect or there is no difference, then I will be quiet. Nahhh! What's the fun in that?

[AntiVerified]

11 hours ago, Draco1962 said:

Just a hunch and maybe off base, but first, are you running these games with the batch files vs. not when testing? If so, try testing the same games over again. If no errors, then the issue could be a process launched via your "Launch Before" that needs to be killed via "Launch After." 

If I am incorrect or there is no difference, then I will be quiet. Nahhh! What's the fun in that?

Hey @Draco1962, in order to not exacerbate the issue, I removed my batch files early on from launch before and after preferences to keep the testing clean and make sure I am giving feedback on the general case, not my specific case. I am however mentioning that even if everything with Windows/Steam gets sorted, I may still be in a bad state for my specific case.

In fact, "Launch Before" that needs to be killed via "Launch After."  is the exact methodology I use, however, launch after is never triggered unless gameex regains control. At least this is my understanding. 

[Tom Speirs]

Sorry for the delay, i was setting up new servers.

I removed the MS one. I would expect the other one to close.

Please try attached. Thanks.

GameEx.zip

[Tom Speirs]

I tested Boomerang Fu. it worked fine for me.

[AntiVerified]

19 hours ago, Tom Speirs said:

I tested Boomerang Fu. it worked fine for me.

Hey Tom,

This update works really well. I am finding that focus returns to GameEx really quickly when exiting a steam game!

Any consideration for allowing us to control the exclusions? When I add my batch commands back to be able to dynamically load virtual controllers, obviously they aren't in your exclusion list and so must be exited before it will return. In the case of one instance, it seems to trigger an additional service process too and so just closing the virtual controller program doesn't return focus back to GameEx.

batch_virtual_controller_game_log.txt batch_vjoy_game_log.txt working_no_batch_log.txt

[Tom Speirs]

I will allow some exclusions. hopefully I can do it automatically.

[AntiVerified]

On 12/9/2025 at 9:42 AM, Tom Speirs said:

I will allow some exclusions. hopefully I can do it automatically.

Hope you have been having a good holiday season! Let me know if/when you want me to test anything.  No rush though, I appreciate all that you do and that it is the holiday season.

[Tom Speirs]

Thank you and no problem. it won't be for 10 days and its not because of the holidays. My code signing dongle is stuck in the wrong country!

[AntiVerified]

15 hours ago, Tom Speirs said:

Thank you and no problem. it won't be for 10 days and its not because of the holidays. My code signing dongle is stuck in the wrong country!

I hate it when I leave my dongle in another country 👀
 

this makes me think of this BBC sketch