Deathloop is Crashing and won’t launch on PC – How to fix

Deathloop crashing and won’t launch – This technical guide will show you how to fix crashing and launch issues in Deathloop PC. A lot of PC users are experiencing them. So don’t worry, you are not alone.

Deathloop Crashing and won’t launch fix

After getting delayed for almost a million times, Deathloop is finally here. The game is an action-adventure FPS title from Arkane Lyon. Arkane Lyon is the same studio who were behind the critically acclaimed Dishonored games. Deathloop involves two rival assassins, who are caught in a mysterious timeloop on the island of Blackreef, doomed to repeat the same day for eternity. Players get to play as Colt, the only chance for escape is to end the cycle by assassinating eight key targets before the day resets. Learn from each cycle – try new paths, gather intel, and find new weapons and abilities. Your main objective is to break the loop.

The mechanics of the game are somewhat similar to that of Dishonored. And that works really well, in my opinion. The game is great, and so far it has been doing really well on Steam. But, that doesn’t mean that Deathloop is perfect. At the time of me writing this article, I found plenty of issues in Deathloop. And I saw a lot of players complain about issues like the crashing and various launch or startup errors on Reddit, and the Steam discussions page of Deathloop. Here are the issues that Deathloop PC players are experiencing, along with some steps to fix them.

Deathloop won’t launch, failed to start fix

[Note: Deathloop incorporates a third party Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM. It also requires a Bethesda account linked to your Steam]

Before you read this article any further, I would like to let you know that Deathloop only runs Windows 10 64-bit, that too on the recent versions of the OS. The official system requirements of the game clearly states that you need ’64-bit Windows 10 version 1909 or higher’ at least, to even launch the game. Check out the full system requirements of Deathloop:

Deathloop - Official System Requirements

If you don’t know how to check your Windows version, then all you have to do is:

  1. Press Windows+R keys on your keyboard
  2. Type ‘winver’ and press enter

Your OS version and OS build details will pop up in a small window. The game is launching perfectly on my personal rig, and this is the OS version I am using:

The first thing you should consider doing is, try running the executable file or .exe file of Deathloop as administrator. Just head over to the folder where you have installed Deathloop. You can find the folder easily by going to your Steam library, selecting Deathloop, clicking the Settings icon on the right, Manage > Browse local files.

Deathloop - Steam settings

Right-click on deathloop.exe and select Properties. Now click on the Compatibility and check the box beside “Run this program as an administrator”. Start the game directly by double-clicking on the exe file, instead of launching it via Steam.

Check whether your Anti-virus software is blocking Deathloop/Steam or not. This has happened to a lot of games this year, it was the same case with Scarlet Nexus, Persona 5 Strikers and plenty of other titles, when they launched. The executable of Deathloop may be getting silently quarantined by some antivirus software, resulting in the software giving a false positive. Therefore, you may need to disable Real-Time Scanning function or Real-Time Protection function of your Anti-virus to play. If you do not want to completely disable the software, then you will have to add the executable file of Deathloop on the Exceptions list of your AV Software.

Try downloading and installing the latest version of Visual C++ redistributable, as there’s a chance it hasn’t been installed correctly. Also, update your drivers and operating system to resolve any compatibility issues. This should be an obvious step by now. The newer the drivers are, the better will be their compatibility. Nvidia users can download the latest drivers from here or via GeForce Experience. AMD users can download the latest drivers from here. And finally, keep re-installation as your last resort.

Deathloop Crashing fix

Use your default clock speeds if you are using an overclocked GPU/CPU. An overclocked GPU or Processor could cause a lot of issues if it is not being able to draw enough power from the PSU.

You can try verifying in-game files of Deathloop. If there are files missing, then they would get downloaded. Just go to your Steam library, select Deathloop and right-click. Now click on Properties > Local files > Verify integrity of game files. Restart Steam after the process is completed.

Update – 09/14/2021

If you are using RivaTuner Statistics Server or MSI Afterburner, you might have to close them. The Void engine has some issues with those applications. The engine is causing conflicts with the apps, causing Deathloop to crash with the follow Error message:

DEATHLOOP using VoidEngine 1.708.0.34

Error 0xC0000005(Access Violation) occured in thread ‘DEATHLOOP’ at instruction location 0x00007FF73400E16F.

Update – 09/15/2021

Check out this fix from Steam user /filarion:

I noticed that I had AES extensions disabled in BIOS. I enabled them and… well, I’m getting a loading screen. We’ll see.

In my BIOS (hitting the DEL key to get there on bootup on my MSI motherboard) it is buried in the CPU feature set menu. I think this issue was specific to my problem. If you never messed with your BIOS, it shouldn’t be an issue.

A lot of users have tried this fix, and have actually confirmed that this works. Check out some of the responses:

Deathloop launch issue fix - User responses

Update – 09/21/2021

Nvidia has launched a new Game Ready Driver that provides optimal support for the latest update to Deathloop. The version is 472.12. Install it and let me know in the comment section below, if the game’s performance has improved for you or not.

AMD has also launched a new Adrenaline driver for Deathloop. The version is Adrenalin 21.9.1 Optional. Install it and let me know in the comment section below, if the game’s performance has improved for you or not.


I will keep on updating this article with the very specific fixes as soon as they start surfacing on the forums. I promise you won’t have to look anywhere else. Until then, you can check out the discussions page on Deathloop. You will find a lot of people sharing similar experiences.


If you think that this guide has helped you, then let us know in the comment section below. Also, try checking out our other guides on Deathloop. Who knows, you might end up finding a something you have been looking for.


That’s all folks!

Last Updated on September 21, 2021