Why Does My Game Crash On Startup And How To Fix It Fast

Nothing kills the excitement of diving into a new or favorite game faster than a sudden crash right at launch. Whether you're dealing with a AAA title, an indie gem, or a competitive multiplayer game, startup crashes are frustratingly common—and often solvable without needing technical expertise. The root causes vary widely: from outdated drivers to corrupted files, incompatible settings, or background software interference. Understanding what’s behind the crash is the first step toward a quick resolution. This guide breaks down the most frequent reasons games fail to start and provides clear, actionable solutions that can get you back in the game within minutes.

Common Causes of Game Crashes on Startup

Before attempting fixes, it's essential to recognize the underlying triggers. A game crashing immediately upon launch doesn’t always point to a single issue. Instead, multiple system-level or software-related factors could be at play.

• Outdated graphics drivers: Your GPU driver may not support the game’s rendering engine or API requirements (e.g., DirectX 12, Vulkan).
• Corrupted game files: Missing or damaged installation files prevent proper initialization.
• Incompatible system specifications: Your CPU, RAM, or GPU may fall below the minimum requirements.
• Background applications: Overlays (Discord, Steam, GeForce Experience), antivirus tools, or recording software can conflict with game processes.
• Missing or outdated Visual C++ Redistributables: Many games rely on these runtime libraries to function.
• Windows OS issues: Missing updates, incorrect permissions, or .NET Framework problems can disrupt execution.
• Overclocking instability: Manually overclocked CPU, GPU, or RAM may cause instability during high-load launches.

Identifying which factor applies to your situation streamlines troubleshooting. Most crashes stem from one of the top three causes: driver issues, file corruption, or conflicting software.

Tip: Always check the game’s official forums or support page—developers often post known issues and temporary workarounds for recent crashes.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fix Game Startup Crashes

Follow this structured approach to diagnose and resolve the problem efficiently. Each step targets a specific failure point, starting with the most common and least invasive fixes.

1. Restart your computer. A simple reboot clears temporary glitches, resets hardware states, and stops rogue processes that might interfere with game launch.
2. Update your graphics drivers. Visit the manufacturer’s website:
   • NVIDIA: GeForce Drivers
   • AMD: AMD Driver & Support
   • Intel: Intel Driver Support
   Use the latest WHQL-certified version compatible with your GPU model.
3. Verify game files integrity. If using Steam:
   1. Right-click the game > Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files.
   2. Wait for the process to complete and relaunch.
   For Epic Games Launcher, reinstall the title or use the \"Verify\" option if available.
4. Run the game as Administrator. Right-click the game executable or shortcut and select “Run as administrator.” This bypasses permission restrictions that may block access to critical resources.
5. Disable overlays and background apps. Temporarily turn off Discord overlay, Steam overlay, MSI Afterburner, or any screen capture tool. These inject code into running processes and are frequent crash culprits.
6. Install required redistributables. Navigate to your game’s installation folder and look for a \"_CommonRedist\" directory. Run installers for DirectX, Visual C++, and .NET Framework. Alternatively, download them manually from Microsoft’s official site.
7. Update Windows. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Install all pending updates, especially those related to system components and security patches.
8. Adjust compatibility mode. Right-click the game’s .exe file > Properties > Compatibility tab. Try running in compatibility mode for Windows 8 or 7, and check “Disable fullscreen optimizations.”

This sequence resolves over 80% of startup crashes. If the issue persists, move to advanced diagnostics.

Advanced Fixes for Persistent Crashes

When basic steps fail, deeper system inspection is necessary. These methods address less obvious but impactful issues.

Check Event Viewer for Crash Logs

Windows logs application failures in Event Viewer:

1. Press Win + R, type eventvwr.msc, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to Windows Logs > Application.
3. Look for entries labeled “Error” with the game’s name or its executable.
4. Note the error code and faulting module (e.g., “ig9icd64.dll” points to Intel graphics).

This information helps pinpoint whether the crash originated from a third-party driver, memory allocation failure, or missing DLL.

Reinstall Graphics Drivers Cleanly

Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) for a complete wipe:

1. Download DDU from Guru3D.
2. Boot into Safe Mode.
3. Run DDU and select your GPU brand.
4. Click “Clean and restart.”
5. After reboot, install the latest driver from the manufacturer.

This eliminates configuration conflicts from previous installations.

Monitor System Temperatures and Stability

Overheating components can cause immediate shutdowns. Use tools like HWMonitor or Core Temp to check CPU and GPU temperatures before launching the game. Sustained temps above 90°C under load indicate cooling issues. Clean dust from fans and ensure proper airflow.

“Many players overlook thermal throttling as a cause of crashes. Even if the system boots fine, high temps during startup can trigger protection mechanisms that force shutdowns.” — Rajiv Mehta, Senior PC Hardware Technician

Troubleshooting Checklist

💡 Quick Action Checklist:

• ✅ Restart your PC
• ✅ Update graphics drivers
• ✅ Verify game files (Steam/Epic)
• ✅ Run game as Administrator
• ✅ Disable overlays (Discord, Steam, etc.)
• ✅ Install Visual C++ Redistributables
• ✅ Check Windows for updates
• ✅ Test in compatibility mode
• ✅ Review Event Viewer crash logs
• ✅ Perform clean driver reinstall with DDU

Go through each item systematically. Mark completed steps to avoid repetition and track progress.

Do’s and Don’ts When Fixing Game Crashes

Do’s	Don’ts
Always back up save files before reinstalling	Don’t ignore error messages or codes
Keep your operating system updated	Don’t use third-party “game booster” apps blindly—they can destabilize systems
Check community forums for known bugs	Don’t overclock during troubleshooting
Use official sources for drivers and runtimes	Don’t skip verifying game files—it’s fast and often effective
Document changes made during fixes	Don’t assume the issue is hardware-related without testing

Following best practices reduces the risk of introducing new problems while solving existing ones.

Real-World Example: Fixing a Persistent Crash in Cyberpunk 2077

A player reported that Cyberpunk 2077 crashed instantly on startup after a patch update. The game launched briefly, displayed the CD Projekt RED logo, then closed. No error message appeared.

The user followed standard steps: verified game files (no issues found), ran as admin, disabled Discord overlay—but the crash continued. Event Viewer revealed a faulting module: nvldumdx.dll, indicating an NVIDIA driver problem.

The solution involved using DDU to remove the current driver completely, followed by a fresh installation of the latest Game Ready driver. After rebooting, the game launched successfully. The root cause was a partial driver update that left conflicting files in the system.

This case highlights the importance of checking system logs and not assuming file verification alone will catch all issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my game crash only on startup and not later?

Startup crashes typically occur during initialization—when the game loads assets, connects to services, or allocates memory. If the crash happens early, it’s likely due to missing dependencies, driver incompatibility, or corrupted launch files. Once past this phase, the game may run stably because core systems are already loaded.

Can antivirus software cause game crashes?

Yes. Some antivirus programs flag game files—especially cracked or modified executables—as threats and block their execution. Even legitimate games can be misidentified. Add the game’s installation folder to your antivirus exclusion list to prevent interference.

Does insufficient RAM cause immediate crashes?

Yes. If your system doesn’t meet the minimum RAM requirement, the game may fail to allocate necessary memory during startup. Check Task Manager while launching the game—if memory usage spikes and the system becomes unresponsive, upgrade RAM or close background applications.

Conclusion: Get Back in the Game Fast

Game crashes on startup are disruptive but rarely permanent. With a methodical approach, most issues can be resolved in under 30 minutes. Start with driver updates and file verification, eliminate software conflicts, and dig into system logs when needed. The key is patience and precision—rushing through fixes without understanding the cause often leads to repeated failures. Now that you have a clear roadmap, apply these strategies confidently the next time your game refuses to launch. Your victory screen is just a few fixes away.

🚀 Got a stubborn crash you fixed? Share your experience in the comments—your solution might help someone else get back to gaming faster!