Fix DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Crash at Startup and Not Launching

DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition, a critically acclaimed game has released, but like with most games there can be problems launching the game. In this guide, we set out to resolve problems that crash the game at launch. As there are several reasons that can cause crash, we will try to identify each of the cause and give a solution. This is going to be a long guide, so check each point before moving to the next. Scroll down and we will help you resolve the DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition crash at startup and not launching problem.   

Causes of DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Crashing at Startup or Failed to Launch

1. A large number of users face the crash at startup with DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition due to the system not meeting the minimum specifications of the game, especially the GPU and the processor. Therefore, first ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements to play the game.

• Another major cause of crashes in games either in-game or startup occurs when the game is not updated. Therefore, check for updates for the game, but in this case it may not apply as the game’s just released and you probably are on the first install. 
• Developers release new games with the intention that it’ll be running on the latest operating system version. If your OS is outdated, it can be the cause of errors including crash and not launching problem.
• Microsoft Redistributable Libraries are also important when it comes to running games. If you do not have them installed or they are corrupted or overwritten, it can cause problems with the game.
• When the game files are corrupted, the game will definitely crash. Hence, when you encounter a crash at startup with DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition, the first thing you should do is verify the game files. Steam, Epic, Origin, and other launchers all have a function to repair corrupt game files. Use the feature of the respective launcher.  
• When you run the game on fullscreen, it can cause performance problems. Hence, it’s recommended that you try to play the game in Windowed mode and check if the problem still occurs.
• Like the OS and the game, the graphics card driver software also plays a crucial role in game delivery to your screen and if the software is outdated it can cause crash. Graphics card manufacturers release new driver updates several times in a month. Ensure that you have the latest update.
• When dealing with crash at startup, you should note that Overlays in software can cause crash, primarily the Steam, GeForce Experience, and Discord Overlays are known to cause crash at startup. In fact, don’t run any software that is not necessary while playing DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition. 
• Windows Defender is known for its reputation of blocking game folders, which leads to crash. The same can happen with the third-party antivirus software you may be using. You must whitelist the game in the security software.
• Finally, if there is a problem with the hard drive where you have installed the game, it can also lead to crash. Therefore, try changing the install location of the game or use an external SSD.

Fix DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Crash at Startup and Not Launching

Whenever you install a new game, there are certain things you should ensure, whitelisting the game is one and the second, provide admin permission to the game and the launcher. You can do this by going to the install location of the game and right-clicking on the .exe > select Properties > go to Compatibility tab > check Run this program as an administrator. Let’s proceed with the solutions. 

Fix 1: Turn off the Antivirus or Windows Firewall

The most likely cause of theDRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Editioncrash at startup is your antivirus software. Therefore, disable the software and try to play the game. If the works, you need to whitelist the game as you cannot have the antivirus disabled for long. Here are the steps to whitelist the game in the respective antivirus software.    

Windows Virus & Threat Protection

Windows Key + I > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection > Virus & threat protection settings > Manage settings > Exclusions > Add or remove exclusions > Add an exclusion.

Kaspersky Internet Security

Home > Settings > Additional > Threats and Exclusions > Exclusions > Specify Trusted Applications > Add.

AVG

Home >> Settings > Components > Web Shield > Exceptions > Set the exception.

Avast Antivirus

Home > Settings > General > Exclusions > Set the exclusion.

Fix 2: Verify Integrity of Game Files on Steam

Depending on the launcher you are using to play the game, the process is similar. Steam offers a feature to scan and replace any corrupt files of the game. Here are the steps you can follow.

1. Launch the Steam client
2. From the LIBRARY, right-click on DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition and select Properties
3. Go to LOCAL FILES and click on VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES…

Fix 3: Set Launch Option on Steam for Windowed Mode

1. Launch the Steam client
2. Go to Libraries and locate DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition. Right-click on the game and select Properties
3. Click on the General tab and click on SET LAUNCH OPTIONS
4. In the field type or paste -windowed –noborder
5. Press Ok and exit
6. Restart the system and check if the DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition crash at startup still occurs.

Fix 4: Update the Graphics Drivers

Although an outdated graphics card driver causes the most crashes, you should keep all drivers and software updated on the system. This includes the OS, audio drivers, motherboards, processors, etc.

So, first update the graphics card drivers and check if DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition  crashes on startup or in-game. Nvidia recently released Game Ready Driver. Here are the link to both Nvidia and AMD drivers you need.

Nvidia Game Ready Driver

AMD Radeon Software Driver

Select your OS and other specs and download and install the software. If the problem persists, update everything from OS to audio drivers and check again.

Fix 5: Terminate Unnecessary Applications and Perform Clean Boot

With so many games, third-party software that forcefully inject themselves between operations cause crash in the game. Hence, the first thing we must do to resolve the DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition crashing on startup or failed to launch error is suspend all unnecessary programs and then launch the game. Here are the steps you can follow.

1. Press Windows Key + R and type msconfig, hit Enter
2. Go to the Services tab
3. Check Hide all Microsoft services
4. Now, click Disable all
5. Go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager
6. Disable one task at a time and restart the system.

Try launching the game, check if the error still occurs.

Fix 6: Disable Steam Overlay

If the game crashes right after the intro video, the cause of the problem can be the Steam Overlay. This feature has been known to act up with some games. You can resolve the error by disabling the Steam Overlay. Launch Steam client. Click on Library and right-click on DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition. Select Properties and uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.

Close Steam and check if the in-game crash or DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition crash at startup still occurs.

Fix 7: Disable or Remove GeForce Experience / MSI Afterburner

Sometimes third-party software can tune the GPU settings that does not pair with the game leading to the error. By simply disabling the software, you can resolve the errors. You can uninstall the programs to disable them or simply disable them from the Task Manager. Disable the programs via any method that suits you. Once done, try playing the game and check if the error still appears.

Fix 8: Disable Shader Cache

For Nvidia users, you can disable the Shader Cache which is known to crash games. Here are the steps to disable Shader Cache from the Nvidia Control panel.

1. Right-click on Desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel
2. Expand 3D Settings > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings
3. Click Add and select DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
4. Under Specify the settings for this program, locate Shader Cache and select Off.

Check if the DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition Game Crashes at Startup, Crashes Mid-game, and other performance errors still occur. If they do, try the next fix.

Fix 9: Remove Bad Sectors from the HHD

If you have bad sectors on your HDD, it could also be causing the crash. Although you could correct the corruption in the file system via CHKDSK on Command Prompt, here is a simple alternative.

1. Right-click on C drive or the partition where you have installed the game and the launcher.
2. Select Properties and go to Tools
3. Click on Check and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Try playing the game.
4. After the process completes, the window will auto-exit.

Now, try playing the game and check if DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition crashing error still occurs.

Fix 10: Modify Discord Settings

The in-game overlay and the hardware acceleration of Discord is also known to cause crash in games. So, if you have the software installed and running disable the overlay and hardware acceleration. Here are the steps you can follow.

1. Launch the Discord app and click on User Settings
2. Click on Voice & Video in the left menu
3. Locate Advanced by scrolling down and click
4. Next, disable OpenH264 Video Codec provided by Cisco System, Inc. and Enable Quality of Service High Packet Priority
5. Go to Overlay and disable it
6. Go to Advanced anddisable Hardware Acceleration.

Fix 11: Installing Microsoft Visual C++ 2015

Here are the steps you can follow.

1. Press Windows + R and type appwiz.cpl, hit Enter
2. Locate Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Redistributable. Right-click on it and select Uninstall
3. Reboot the system and try to play the game. If it still crashes proceed to install Visual C++
4. Download and install both the x86 and x64 versions
5. Restart the system.

Hopefully, the above solutions have resolved the DRAGON QUEST XI S Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition crashing at startup and won’t launch problem with the game. Let us know in the comments if you have better solutions.