Game crashes during "loading database"

That's it. I cleared the cache. I verified the files. I uninstalled the game and installed it again... I have done everything, yet my game crashes every single time that I try to start a new game. Most of times, I can't go even past the "Loading Database". There was one time in which I was able to go past it, and then, the game got stuck in "Setting up game database'.

I have no mods installed, no changes to the database, etc...

Same for me. Funny thing is that it works fine on my work laptop. Same windows 11, same antivirus, only that is far worse than my gaming laptop.