I have already tried the standard "solutions" i.e. deleted old files, re-downloaded all files from the server - didn't help...downloaded and re-installed NET Framework, also didn't help.
Please ensure your system's firewall doesn't block tcp/ip port 81 (Launcher.exe uses this port).
Or you can try to start Hearthranger.exe directly, there is no need to start from Launcher.exe if it's already the latest version.
Or you can use VPN to solve this issue too.
Such issue is caused by bot has no right to access game's directory, or windows temp directory, or game's process.
No, that was not it, BUTI got it to work, and i'm gonna tell you the story so that you can add the solution to you Q&A or troubleshooting or whatever so that the next poor soul with the same problem has a solution.
So this whole time the problem was .....drumrolls please...proxy.
Around the time that Hearthranger stoped working i've installed and uninstalled some programs and updates, let's call it computer spring cleaning.
Hearthranger stoped working at the same time, but i didn't pay much attention to the timings because i thought the one had nothing to do with the other.
So someone, some update, somehow (it wasn't me because i didn't even know that that was a thing until i googled it) changed the LAN Proxy settings on my PC.
I have noticed it only when I opened Chrome. I always use Firefox and I only use Chrome for.......private....browsing.
So there I was, home alone, opened Chrome private window to shop for presents for my family members when i noticed that there is no connection to the internet.
I switched back to Firefox, everything worked as normal. Back to Chrome, still no connection for any page.
So after a little googling on Firefox, I worked it out that i have to unckech the "use a proxy server for your LAN" box. After that everything worked like a charm.
On the page here it is very nicely explained how to fix this.
P.S. Dear Admin can you mark this topic as SOLVED if someone else needs help.
1 user thanked billgone for this useful post.
So if your proxy is set on the browser, there is no way to use it? I kinda need my machine to get covered with residential proxies on Chrome. Is there another way to get around this issues without disabling? A bit lost there.