I did find a setting in the packaging settings, if I force a list of the maps it should include, the map-loading problem is solved. Somehow the automatic inclusion of maps is failing.
Cook only maps alone does not help.
Maybe the build software automatically includes the maps on the mac side (since I do not have this problem on the mac build) but it is not doing the same on the PC side? Both my mac and PC settings are the same in terms of build details.