How to Fix Dragon’s Dogma 2 Crashing on Startup

Trying to figure out how to fix Dragon’s Dogma 2 crashing on startup? You’re not alone. We’ve outlined a list of potential solutions making the rounds to get you playing ASAP.

Since the release of Dragon’s Dogma 2 last week, the game has received some overwhelmingly mixed reviews, especially on Steam. Players have cited performance and fidelity issues as their biggest concerns, though many were also blindsided by the implementation of microtransactions at launch. Since then, a host of PC gamers are still experiencing technical problems, such as the game crashing on startup. Developer and publisher Capcom is aware of the issues players are experiencing, and permanent fixes are underway. In the meantime, here’s what to do when Dragon’s Dogma 2 crashes on PC.

How to Fix Dragon’s Dogma 2 Crashing on PC

Many of those playing Dragon’s Dogma 2 on PC have experienced an issue with the game crashing on startup. Fortunately, there are a number of routes you can take to remedy the problem. However, there are no known guaranteed fixes at the time of writing. Until Capcom is able to resolve the problem indefinitely, here’s what you can try.

• Run Dragon’s Dogma 2 in Administrator Mode on Steam — This seems to be the most promising solution to the problem, but it hasn’t worked for everyone. We’ll get to the reason why in a moment, but you’ll want to try this method first.
• Uninstall DLC Unlockers — If you have a DLC Unlocker installed, then the first method won’t stop your PC from crashing. This was noted by players who have begun the troubleshooting process on Reddit, where one user discovered that DLC Unlockers like Koalagedon will cause the game to crash on startup. Simply remove the file to resolve the issue.
• Double-check the System Requirements — Moving into the nitty gritty fixes, it’s no secret that Dragons Dogma 2 doesn’t play well with lesser builds. However, even some high-end setups can have trouble running the game. Be sure to go over the game’s system requirements to see if you missed anything at first glance.
• Modify Graphics Settings — If you’re sure your PC should be able to run Dragon’s Dogma 2, then modifying your graphics settings should help you run the game, despite the fact that it lacks separate graphics modes. We’ve outlined the best performance and fidelity settings on PC. Go over your current settings and tweak what you can.
• Whitelist Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Your Antivirus Software — It’s not uncommon for antivirus software to totally reject a game on startup. This often results in crashes, of course. To fix the issue:
  • Press the Windows and R keys at the same time
  • Search control firewall.cpl and press Enter
  • On the left panel, click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall
  • If Steam and Dragon’s Dogma 2 are already on the list provided, remove them and add them back in with the next step
  • If neither program is on the list, go to Change settings
  • Click Allow another app…
  • Hit Browse…
  • Open the installation folders for Steam and Dragon’s Dogma 2
  • Look for steam.exe, click, then open
  • Finally, hit Add
  • Make sure Steam and Dragon’s Dogma 2 are added to the list, then tick off Domain, Private, and Public
  • Click OK to finish up
• Verify the Game Files — If your PC crashes when you try to launch Dragon’s Dogma 2, then there’s a chance your game file is corrupted. In this case, you can go to your Steam Library, right-click on Dragon’s Dogma 2, then go to Properties. Click Installed Files, and hit Verified integrity of game files. Steam will assess the game file to see if it’s corrupted. If that’s the case, then you’ll need to reinstall the game.

We’ll update this list of fixes with additional solutions as we learn more. For more tips on Dragon’s Dogma 2, check out these guides from our team:

• Dragon’s Dogma 2: Best Vocations Tier List
• Can You Play Dragon’s Dogma 2 Solo With No Pawns?
• Dragon’s Dogma 2 PC System Requirements