, you generally need to restore the file from your antivirus quarantine or verify your game files through Steam. This error most commonly occurs because antivirus software flags the file as a "false positive" and automatically deletes or moves it.

Before editing files, restart your computer. This releases any file locks and clears temporary glitches. Then, fully exit Steam (right-click the system tray icon > ) and relaunch it.

Believe it or not, a corrupt Windows system file can prevent 3rd-party DLLs from loading.

If the file is missing from Steam’s own redistributables: