java.lang.NullPointerException: Initializing game

I just installed the latest Minecraft Launcher (stated version is 2.0.847, though the support ticket only allowed up to 2.0.806 for Windows), and every time I try to launch the game, through either the "Latest release" or my account name option, the launcher closes for a few seconds and reopens with a crash report that reads as follows:

The game crashed whilst initializing game
Error: java.lang.NullPointerException: Initializing game

I can't seem to find any other instances of this having happened recently, with the most recent discussion of a NullPointerException I can find being from 2015. I'm not sure what is causing this since I have also just updated Java to its latest version and reinstalled the Minecraft Launcher a couple of times.