This is the most common GameGuard error and means something on your PC is stopping GameGuard from starting, usually a leftover process, antivirus or a permissions issue. Jump to your situation below or work through the methods in order.
GameGuard Error 114, Initialization fail or Failed to initialize GameMon, is the most common nProtect GameGuard error and a broad one: it means something on your PC is preventing GameGuard from loading. Because GameGuard acts like a rootkit, the usual triggers are a leftover GameGuard process from a game that did not close cleanly, lack of administrator rights, antivirus or firewall blocking it (AVG and Comodo are common culprits), a collision with other software, or an out-of-date Windows. The fixes, in order: reboot to clear a stuck GameGuard, or end the GameMon.des process in Task Manager; run the game as administrator; whitelist GameGuard in your antivirus and firewall (or briefly disable third-party antivirus to test); and use a clean boot to find a colliding program. If it still fails, delete the game's GameGuard folder so the launcher redownloads a clean copy, and make sure Windows, DirectX and your GPU drivers are up to date. Because 114 is a start-up block rather than a ban, clearing the interference gets you playing.
GameGuard starts alongside the game and behaves like a rootkit, so it is easily blocked. Error 114 means it could not initialize, most often because a previous GameGuard did not shut down, it lacks admin rights, or antivirus, a firewall or another program is interfering.
Clearing the interference fixes it. Reboot or end the leftover GameMon.des process, run the game as administrator, and whitelist GameGuard in antivirus and firewall. A clean boot finds a colliding program, and deleting the GameGuard folder forces a clean redownload.
“Error 114 is the GameGuard classic, and nine times out of ten it is a leftover. A game closed badly, GameGuard did not unload, and now nothing will start until you reboot or kill GameMon.des in Task Manager. After that I run the game as admin, because it needs those rights, and whitelist GameGuard in the antivirus and firewall, since AVG and Comodo in particular hate it. If it is still stuck, a clean boot finds the colliding app, and deleting the game's GameGuard folder makes the launcher pull a fresh copy.”
GameMon.des process.C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\[game]\GameGuard) so the launcher redownloads it.GameGuard Error 114 (Initialization fail) means something is blocking GameGuard from loading. Reboot or end the GameMon.des process in Task Manager, run the game as administrator, and whitelist GameGuard in antivirus and firewall. Use a clean boot to find a colliding program, delete the game's GameGuard folder to force a clean redownload, and keep Windows, DirectX and GPU drivers updated.
If Error 114 persists after every step, a Windows security update collision is possible; make sure Windows is fully updated, since past collisions have been fixed by later updates, and verify the game files. You can also submit your error to us for a tailored fix.