Sometimes, the game tells the cloud to unsubscribe, but the broken files remain on your hard drive. You need to purge them manually. Close AoE2 DE and Steam/Xbox App completely.
While this works for the original HD Edition, the Definitive Edition relies heavily on the launcher for mod management and cloud saves. Bypassing it can cause your mods to stop aoe2 validating subscriptions
For many Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (AoE2:DE) players, the experience of launching the game is often interrupted by a screen that says . While this process is designed to ensure your mods, custom maps, and game files are synced with the Steam Workshop, it frequently becomes stuck, creating a frustrating bottleneck. Sometimes, the game tells the cloud to unsubscribe,
from the internet (unplug the ethernet cable or disconnect Wi-Fi). While this works for the original HD Edition,
Subscription validation helps prevent unauthorized access to AOE2's online features, reducing the risk of: