Manually delete any leftover files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Age2HD . Restart your PC and reinstall the game.
The file name was the strange part. Apirajas . It wasn’t a standard Windows library. It wasn’t listed in any official update logs. It was a ghost. steam-apirajas.dll age of empires 2
steam_apirajas.dll in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is a . It enables offline/LAN play but disables official multiplayer, updates, and achievements. While not inherently malicious, it poses compatibility and security risks. For the best experience, purchase the game on Steam and verify file integrity to restore authentic DLLs. Manually delete any leftover files in C:\Program Files