It sounds simple, but never underestimate the power of a full restart. Minimizing Steam to the system tray is not enough. You must completely kill the process.
The error "DmC Devil May Cry: Steam Must Be Running to Play This" is almost always a communication issue between the game executable and the Steam client. It is frustrating, but rarely permanent.
: Navigate to the game's installation folder, locate a folder named directx_Jun2010_redist
Allow the verification process to scan your local drive. Steam will automatically download clean replacements for any missing or compromised data blocks. 🔄 Step 5: Install Legacy DirectX Dependencies