Settings Menu Exit Issue

Upon entering the in game settings menu, I have encountered a bug that does not allow me to leave the settings menu, by extension, not allowing me to play the game at all. I play on pc and with a controller connected. This has happened to me twice and the rest of the time it has worked properly.

When in game, upon opening my settings menu, everything is working fine, then, when trying to exit the settings menu and go back to the game, I encounter the issue of not being able to escape. The game tells me (when I am using controller input) to use the b button in order to leave the menu. For keyboard and mouse, it says to use the escape button. However upon using these controls, nothing happens. I hear the brief sound of the button activation but it does not do anything.

I've tried pressing the escape with my mouse, using B on the controller, using escape, and combinations of all of those all in row. I was never able to escape the settings menu and the bug always ends up with me having to restart my game or quit to the main menu. It absolutely will ruin the game that you are in if you encounter this bug.