Dragon's Dogma 2 crashes on startup? Black screen? Character creation error? - Problem solving

 

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a long-awaited big-budget project from Capcom, which was released in not the best technical condition. In addition to poor optimization, the game also encounters standard problems, such as crashes to the desktop, startup errors, black screens, and others. We have collected all the effective solutions to Dragon's Dogma 2 technical problems in one guide.

System requirements

System requirements are a set of computer specifications required to run Dragon's Dogma 2. They will help you understand whether a particular computer is suitable for playing the game comfortably.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements reflect the lowest threshold of computer characteristics on which the project can run and function. However, it is worth understanding that having a “minimum” will not always lead to a comfortable game, because in this case, gamers may have to resort to lowering the graphic settings.

• Operating system: Windows 10/11 (64-bit);
• Processor: Intel Core i5 10600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600;
• RAM: 16 GB RAM;
• Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (8GB);
• DirectX: versions 12;
• Approximate performance: 1080p@30FPS. The frame rate may drop during scenes with a lot of effects. Ray tracing requires NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6800.

Featured

Unlike the minimum, the recommended system requirements reflect the computer configuration on which Dragon's Dogma 2 will run best, delivering high-quality graphics and stable frame rates. But it is worth noting that at the moment the project is not well optimized, so owners of even powerful hardware may encounter frame drawdowns and performance problems.

• Operating system: Windows 10/11 (64-bit);
• Processor: Intel Core i7-10700 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600X;
• RAM: 16 GB RAM;
• Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 or AMD Radeon RX 6700;
• DirectX: versions 12;
• Approximate performance: 2160p@30FPS. The frame rate may drop during scenes with a lot of effects. Ray tracing requires NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6800.

Why Dragon's Dogma 2 crashes on PC

Dragon's Dogma 2 crashes on PC can be caused by various reasons:

• Outdated graphics drivers may not support new technologies, resulting in crashes.
• Missing or damaged files often cause incorrect startup or crashes.
• Issues with the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable component, which is required for many games to run, may cause the game to crash.
• Background processes and tasks, especially those that cause conflicts with the game, can cause crashes.
• PC compatibility issues and conflicts with application overlays can also cause problems.

The solution to these problems often involves updating drivers, checking the integrity of files through the Steam digital marketplace, reinstalling Microsoft Visual C++ components, closing background applications, and disabling overlays. We will go into more detail on each point in the section on general solutions for fixing technical problems in Dragon's Dogma 2.

General solutions to fix technical problems in Dragon's Dogma 2

This section contains proven methods for solving technical problems, which are recommended to be used first. These steps will help resolve the most common issues and improve game stability on PC.

Run the game as administrator

To avoid launch problems, it is recommended that you try running Dragon's Dogma 2 with administrator rights. Often, due to access rights restrictions, it may not work correctly. Here's how to do it:

• Launch Steam and go to your library ;
• Find Dragon's Dogma 2 in the list and right-click on it ;
• Select "Properties" from the menu ;
• Go to the tab where the game files on your computer are displayed;
• Find the executable file DD2.exe here and right -click on it ;
• From the context menu, select "Run as administrator" .

This can help resolve some access issues and allow the game to use all the system resources it needs.

Check file integrity

Checking and restoring files in Steam can often solve some technical problems that arise when launching a game.

• Open Steam and go to Library ;
• Right -click on Dragon's Dogma 2 and select “Properties” ;
• In the properties window that opens, go to the “Local Files” tab ;
• Click the "Check file integrity" button .

Update Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

Updating or reinstalling Visual C++ redistributable packages will help resolve issues related to startup errors, crashes, and other problems caused by these components not working correctly or missing. We recommend making sure that you have all the latest versions of packages installed. You can download Microsoft Visual C++ from the official Microsoft website .

Update DirectX

DirectX is a set of APIs developed by Microsoft that allow software to work directly with video and audio hardware. Having the latest version of DirectX will help fix some bugs that occur in Dragon's Dogma 2.

On Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems, DirectX updates occur automatically using Windows Update. The user just needs to make sure that all the latest Windows updates, including optional ones, have been installed. In addition, you can download the current version of DirectX from the official Microsoft website and install it manually.

To find out the current version of DirectX on your PC, press the Win+R key combination , type dxdiag and press Enter . The DirectX Diagnostic Tool will open, where the installed version of DirectX will be displayed in the “System” tab.

Use DirectX 11

Switching to DirectX 11 may be a solution to performance or stability issues in Dragon's Dogma 2, especially if you are experiencing technical difficulties using DirectX 12. Gamers note that DirectX 11 provides greater stability for some PC configurations, and also reduces the likelihood of conflicts between game and graphics hardware.

How to switch to DirectX 11:

• Open the Dragon's Dogma 2 installation folder, which is usually located in the Steamapps/common directory on your computer.
• Locate the folder where the game settings are stored, such as "Dragons Dogma 2 Character Editor" and open the configuration file, which may be labeled "config".
• Inside the configuration file, find the line TargetPlatform=DirectX12 and change it to TargetPlatform=DirectX11 .
• Save your changes and close the file.

In addition, users with NVIDIA graphics cards can set the maximum performance for the GPU:

• Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
• Go to the "Manage 3D Settings" section.
• Find the Power Management Mode setting and set it to Prefer maximum performance.

Update your GPU drivers

A clean installation of GPU drivers is one of the mandatory steps that you need to take if you are facing problems while launching or during gameplay of Dragon's Dogma 2. This step also helps to eliminate conflicts and problems related to outdated or corrupted drivers. Here's how to do it:

1. Download driver removal software. Use a program like Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove all traces of your current GPU drivers.
2. Download the latest driver version. Go to the official NVIDIA or AMD website and download the latest drivers for your graphics card.
3. Disconnect from the Internet: This prevents drivers from being automatically installed through Windows Update during the process.
4. Launch DDU and follow the instructions to choose to remove your current drivers.
5. Restart your computer. Follow DDU's instructions and restart your system to completely remove the drivers.
6. Install new drivers. After rebooting, install the downloaded drivers without connecting to the Internet to avoid automatic driver installation through Windows.
7. Connect to the Internet. After the drivers are successfully installed, you can connect to the Internet again.

Disable overlay apps and close background apps

Disabling overlays can often help resolve performance and stability issues in games, including Dragon's Dogma 2. An overlay is an additional interface that appears on top of the game and provides various features such as chat, FPS metrics, and more. Often, overlays can increase the load on the system, which will negatively affect overall performance.

Be sure to disable overlays in the following applications:

• Steam;
• Discord;
• GeForce Experience;
• Xbox Game Bar.

Update your Windows system

Downloading and installing the latest Windows OS updates is another important step that all players must complete before launching Dragon's Dogma 2. Updates not only provide new features, but also help fix compatibility issues and optimize performance, which will improve the stability of the gameplay.

To check for updates:

• In the search, enter “Windows Update” ;
• Open the window of the same name and click on the “Check for updates” button ;
• The system will automatically start searching for available updates. If any are found, Windows will offer them for installation;
• Be sure to install all available updates—even optional ones!
• When installation is complete, restart your PC.

Disable your antivirus and firewall

Disabling your antivirus and firewall or adding the game to the exclusion list may resolve issues with Dragon's Dogma 2 running due to false security positives.

First, try adding the game to the antivirus exclusion list . Add the path to the game folder and the executable file DD2.exe to the list of exceptions so that the antivirus does not block the file. The same applies to other game-related files, such as Steam.exe.

Disable Windows Firewall:

• Go to “Control Panel” - “System and Security” - “Windows Defender Firewall”;
• From the left menu, select Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
• Disable the firewall for both private and public networks. Be sure to reactivate it again after finishing your gaming session to keep your PC protected.

Launch the game in windowed mode

Some users have reported that running the game in windowed mode can help resolve a number of compatibility issues. Here's how you can run DD2 in borderless windowed mode:

1. Open Steam and go to Library .
2. Find Dragon's Dogma 2 in the list, right-click on it and select "Properties" .
3. In the menu on the left, select "General" and then click on "Set launch options" .
4. Enter the following command line arguments: -windowed -noborder .
5. Save your changes.
6. Try running Dragon's Dogma 2 through Steam and check if it launches in the installed mode.

Error when launching Dragon's Dogma 2. Why the game crashes on Steam

At the moment, many gamers are faced with a problem where, when starting Dragon's Dogma 2, it simply crashes to the desktop with or without an error. Below we have collected all the effective ways to solve this problem.

Run Steam as Administrator

Exit the Steam launcher and end the process (you may need to use the Task Manager). After that, run Steam as an administrator (right-click on the shortcut and select the appropriate item).

Lower resolution

Some players have reported that lowering the resolution in the NVIDIA or AMD control panel helps resolve the crash issue during startup.

Delete the dinput.dll file

In the root folder, find the dinput.dll file and delete it. Try starting the game. If this does not help and DD2 still does not start, you should activate the file integrity check through the Steam launcher.

Delete files associated with unlocking DLC

Removing DLC ​​unlock files may help resolve the error when starting Dragon's Dogma 2. In some cases, these files may cause conflicts or prevent the game from launching correctly. The procedure is as follows:

• Go to the root folder of the game. Usually it is located in the Steam directory along the path - Disk:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Dragon's Dogma 2 ;
• Find and remove DLC files. These may be files with the extension .dlc , .unlock , or others indicating a DLC. Delete them or temporarily move them to another location on your hard drive;
• Restart your computer and launch the game.

Please note that before performing any operations on game files, it is recommended to back up your data to avoid losing progress or other important information.

Disable the controller

If you have followed all the above recommendations and the game is still crashing, disabling your controller may be an effective solution. As strange as it may sound, it has actually helped some gamers. It is likely that sometimes certain controllers or their drivers may cause conflicts with the game, resulting in unexpected technical issues, including crashes.

Limit the frame rate

Limiting the frame rate to 30 FPS in Dragon's Dogma 2 will help reduce system load, especially if the PC does not meet the recommended requirements. This can prevent system overload and reduce the likelihood of crashes, especially when loading resource-intensive scenes:

• Go to the settings menu ;
• Open the “Graphics” section ;
• Find the parameter responsible for limiting the frame rate or FPS (Frame Rate Limit);
• Set this parameter to 30 FPS;
• Save your changes.

Character creation error Fatal D3D error (25, DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG, 0x887a0006)

To solve this problem, just use the frame rate limiting function. Lower the value until the error stops appearing. If even the minimum restriction does not help, we recommend lowering the resolution in the game.

If you are using an NVIDIA 3000 or 4000 series graphics card, try limiting the GPU power to around 70%. This will help disable NVIDIA built-in overclocking.

Textures disappear during gameplay

• Go to the root directory and find the executable file DD2.exe ;
• Right -click on it , select “Properties” - “Compatibility” ;
• In the tab that opens, check the box “Run this program in compatibility mode” ;
• It is also recommended to disable full screen optimization and run the program as administrator 

The game crashes when trying to select a skill in the tavern

There are currently only two solutions to solve this problem:

1. Try switching the screen mode from Full Screen to Borderless Window and vice versa.
2. Always manually save before distributing skills.

How to fix black screen problems

With the release of the first patch for Dragon's Dogma 2, black screen problems began to appear less frequently, but some players still experience them. Below we have collected all the working ways to get around this problem.

Disable scaling in NVIDIA Control Panel

If you have an NVIDIA video card, you can try to disable scaling:

1. Launch the NVIDIA Control Panel and open the “Adjust desktop size and position” section;
2. Select "No scaling" and make sure that "Override scaling mode set by games and programs" is checked .
3. Click "Apply" , restart your PC and try starting the game.

Use FSR or DLSS

Dragon's Dogma 2 includes DLSS and FSR scaling functions, so if you have mid-budget hardware, we recommend using them. If your video card supports these technologies, enable them in the graphics settings. This will improve performance without significant loss of image quality. Set the game's graphics settings to minimum, but leave your preferred screen resolution.

Avoid modifications (mods)

Mods greatly enhance the gaming experience by adding new content or improving graphics, but they can also cause technical problems. Here are instructions on how to properly use mods for Dragon's Dogma 2 to minimize the risk of conflicts:

• First try running Dragon's Dogma 2 without any mods installed;
• If the game launched successfully without mods, start activating them one by one. After activating each mod, launch the game and check its functionality;
• Make sure all mods you have installed are up to date and compatible with the latest version of Dragon's Dogma 2. Mod developers frequently release updates to fix compatibility issues with new versions of the game.

Enable Vsync

Vertical sync is designed to synchronize the frame rate of the game with the refresh rate of the monitor. In most cases, enabling this option consumes a large amount of resources, but helps get rid of other errors. To enable Vsync, open the settings and look for the item in the “Graphics” section .