How to Fix Dark and Darker Crashing at Startup and Not Launching

Dark and Darker – One of the massively popular multiplayer fantasy extraction games developed and published by Ironmace has finally been released into early access on August 7, 2023. However, like any other major titles, many Dark and Darker gamers are experiencing crashing at startup and not launching issues. It is a frustrating issue when you are unable to enjoy the latest action multiplayer title due to crashing at startup and not launching issues. Well, if you are also suffering from crashing at startup and not launching problems, then stick to this guide. Here we have covered all the top solutions for you.

Fix Dark and Darker Crashing at Startup and Not Launching Issue 

Before moving on to the following troubleshooting steps, make sure to go through the following steps quickly.

1. First and very importantly, make sure the game is fully downloaded and installed. If it is partially done, you might experience this issue.

2. Secondly, make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements. Click here and check. If the specifications of your PC are not powerful enough to run a huge game like Dark and Darker, you might not be able to launch the game smoothly on your device.

3. Next, make sure the game is updated. An outdated version can also cause this issue so it is always advisable to update the game to the latest version.

4. Make sure your graphics drivers are updated to the latest version. Outdated drivers can cause a lot of problems including crashing and freezing while launching/playing the game so updating them can help to resolve the issue. Here we give you the links from where you can obtain the updated drivers.

– AMD

– NVIDIA

– Intel

5. Try to delete the folder called “Windows” inside Appdata/Local/DungeonCrawler/Saved/Config.

If these methods don’t help to fix the issue, then below are some other workarounds to fix Dark and Darker crashing at startup and not launching issues.

1. Repair the Game Files

Some missing or corrupted game files can be the root cause of this issue so, try verifying the integrity of game files. For this: Go to Steam Library >> Right-click on Dark and Darker >> Properties >> Local Files >> Verify the integrity of game files. After the scanning, relaunch the game.

2. Close Programs and Tasks Running in the Background

Sometimes, multiple programs and tasks running in the background use massive resources and cause crashing and not launching issues. Therefore, we suggest closing them down by using Task Manager and then try relaunching the game.

3. Disable Antivirus or Firewall

If the issue persists, try disabling your antivirus program temporarily. Sometimes, your antivirus or firewall program can mistakenly identify the game as a threat and prevent it from launching. So, it is advisable to disable them temporarily while launching or playing the game and check if this workaround worked.

4. Run the Game as an Administrator

This is also one of the classic methods to fix Dark and Darker crashing at startup and not launching issues. For this: Right-click on the game’s executable file (.exe file) and select ‘Run as administrator’. This method will help to bypass potential permission issues that might prevent the game from launching.

5. Disable Fullscreen Optimization

The next best method we recommend is to disable fullscreen optimization. To do this:

– Go to the location where this game is installed on your system

– Right-click on the executable and select Properties >> Compatibility

– Check “Disable full-screen optimizations”

6. Disable Third-Party Apps

Sometimes, third-party apps like MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, HWInfo, or any other apps hook into your GPU resulting in crashing at startup and not launching issues. If that is the case, try disabling them temporarily and check if this trick worked.

7. Disable Overlay Apps

That doesn’t work too? Don’t worry, try disabling overlay apps. For this: Go to Steam >> Settings >> In-game >> Uncheck and enable the Steam Overlay while in-game box >> Ok. Once done, relaunch the game and you will be able to launch the game.

8. Try Using DirectX Versions -dx11 or -dx 12 in Launch Options

If the above solutions don’t work, try this method to fix the issue.

– Go to Steam Library >> Right-click on the game >> Properties

– In the “Launch Options”, type in -dx11 and then launch the game

– If that doesn’t work, type -dx12 and try if that worked

9. Move the Game Folder 

If your SSD is experiencing issues or if there’s limited space, it causes a lot of issues. So, some players suggest moving the game folder from an SSD (Solid State Drive) to an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) can sometimes help to fix the issue. 

10. Reinstall the Game

As a last resort, try uninstalling the game completely from your PC and then reinstalling it. The fresh installation will make sure to fix the corrupted game files.

That’s it for this guide. We are sure one of these methods will help you to fix Dark and Darker crashing at startup and not launching issues.

Read next: How does the High Roller Mode work in Dark and Darker.