Dragon's Dogma 2 is a highly anticipated big-budget project from Capcom, which was released in not the best technical condition. In addition to poor optimization, the game also encounters standard issues such as crashes to the desktop, errors on launch, the appearance of a black screen, and others. We have gathered all the effective solutions for the technical problems of Dragon's Dogma 2 in one guide.
The system requirements are a set of computer specifications needed to run Dragon's Dogma 2. They help understand whether a given computer is suitable for comfortable gameplay.
The minimum system requirements reflect the lowest threshold of computer specifications on which the project can be launched and function. However, it's important to understand that having the minimum may not always lead to comfortable gameplay, as gamers might have to resort to lowering the graphic settings.
Unlike the minimum, the recommended system requirements reflect the computer configuration on which Dragon's Dogma 2 will operate best, ensuring high-quality graphics and stable frame rates. However, it's worth noting that the project currently does not have good optimization, so even those with powerful hardware may experience frame drops and performance issues. If you want to improve the performance of Dragon's Dogma 2 on PC, be sure to check out this guide.
Dragon's Dogma 2 crashes on PC can be caused by various reasons:
Solving these issues often involves updating drivers, verifying file integrity through the Steam digital platform, reinstalling Microsoft Visual C++ components, closing background applications, and disabling overlays. We will delve into each of these points in the section on general solutions for fixing technical issues in Dragon's Dogma 2.
This section compiles tested methods for resolving technical glitches, which are recommended to be applied first. These steps will help eliminate the most common problems and enhance the stability of the game on PC.
To avoid launching issues, it is recommended to try running Dragon's Dogma 2 with administrator rights. Often, due to access rights restrictions, it may not function correctly. Here's how to do it:
This might help solve some access issues and allow the game to utilize all necessary system resources.
Checking and repairing files in Steam often resolves some technical issues that arise when launching the game.
Updating or reinstalling the Visual C++ redistributable packages can help resolve issues related to errors during launch, crashes, and other malfunctions caused by the incorrect operation or absence of these components. We recommend ensuring that you have all the latest versions of the packages installed. Download Microsoft Visual C++ from the official Microsoft website.
DirectX is a set of APIs developed by Microsoft that allows software to work directly with video and audio hardware. Having the latest version of DirectX can help fix some errors that occur in Dragon's Dogma 2.
In Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems, DirectX updates automatically via Windows Update. Users just need to ensure that all the latest Windows updates have been installed, including optional ones. Additionally, you can download the latest 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 keys, enter dxdiag, and press Enter. The DirectX Diagnostic Tool will open, where the installed version of DirectX will be displayed on the System tab.
Switching to DirectX 11 can be a solution to performance or stability problems in Dragon's Dogma 2, especially if you have encountered technical difficulties when using DirectX 12. Gamers note that DirectX 11 provides higher stability for some PC configurations and reduces the likelihood of conflicts between the game and the graphics hardware.
How to switch to DirectX 11:
Additionally, NVIDIA graphics card users can set the maximum performance for the GPU:
A clean installation of your GPU drivers is a mandatory step to take if you've encountered issues when launching or during the gameplay of Dragon's Dogma 2. This action also helps to eliminate conflicts and problems associated with outdated or corrupted drivers. Here's how to do it:
Disabling overlays often helps to eliminate performance and stability issues in games, including Dragon's Dogma 2. An overlay is an additional interface that is displayed over the game and provides various functions, such as chat, FPS indicators, and others. Overlays can often increase the system load, which negatively affects overall performance.
Be sure to disable overlays in the following applications:
Downloading and installing the latest Windows OS updates is another crucial step that all players should take before launching Dragon's Dogma 2. Updates not only provide new features but also help fix compatibility errors and performance optimization, which will increase the stability of the gameplay.
To check for updates:
Disabling your antivirus and firewall or adding the game to the exceptions list can solve issues with launching Dragon's Dogma 2 caused by false security triggers.
First, try adding the game to the antivirus exceptions list. Add the path to the game folder and the executable file DD2.exe to the exceptions list, so the antivirus does not block the file from running. This also applies to other game-related files, such as Steam.exe.
Disable Windows Firewall:
Some users have reported that running the game in windowed mode can help solve a variety of compatibility issues. Here's how you can run DD2 in borderless windowed mode:
Currently, many gamers are facing an issue where Dragon's Dogma 2 simply crashes to the desktop with or without an error upon launch. Below, we have compiled all the effective ways to solve this problem.
Exit the Steam launcher and end the process (you may need to use Task Manager). After that, run Steam as an administrator (right-click on the shortcut and select the corresponding option).
Some players have reported that lowering the resolution in the NVIDIA or AMD control panel helps to get rid of the crash issue during launch.
Find the dinput.dll file in the root folder and delete it. Try launching the game. If it doesn't help and DD2 still won't launch, consider activating the file integrity check through the Steam launcher.
Deleting files that unlock DLCs can help eliminate the error when launching Dragon's Dogma 2. In some cases, such files can cause conflicts or prevent the game from launching properly. The steps are as follows:
Please note that it is recommended to create a backup of game files before performing any operations with them to avoid losing progress or other important information.
If you have followed all the above recommendations but the game still crashes, disconnecting the controller can be an effective solution. As strange as it may sound, this has indeed helped some gamers. Sometimes, certain controllers or their drivers can cause conflicts with the game, leading to unforeseen technical issues, including crashes.
Limiting the frame rate to 30 FPS in Dragon's Dogma 2 can help reduce the load on the system, especially if your PC does not meet the recommended requirements. This can prevent system overload and reduce the likelihood of crashes, especially during resource-intensive scenes:
If you are experiencing hangs or serious FPS drops, we advise you to check out this guide. Here, we have detailed which settings to adjust to optimize performance, as well as provided other useful tips.
To solve this problem, it is sufficient to use the frame rate limiting feature. Lower the value until the error stops appearing. If even the minimum limitation does not help, we recommend lowering the game's resolution.
If you are using an NVIDIA 3000 or 4000 series graphics card, try limiting the GPU power to about 70%. This can help disable NVIDIA's built-in overclocking.
There are currently only two solutions to this problem:
Since the release of the first patch for Dragon's Dogma 2, black screen issues have become less frequent, but some players still encounter them. Below, we have compiled all the working methods to circumvent this annoyance.
If you own an NVIDIA graphics card, you can try disabling scaling:
Dragon's Dogma 2 features the scaling technologies DLSS and FSR, so if you have mid-range hardware, we recommend using them. If your graphics card supports these technologies, enable them in the graphics settings. This will help improve performance without a significant loss in image quality. Set the game's graphic settings to minimum but keep your preferred screen resolution.
Mods significantly enhance the gaming experience by adding new content or improving graphics, but they can also be the cause of technical issues. Here is a guide on how to properly use mods for Dragon's Dogma 2 to minimize the risk of conflicts:
Vertical synchronization is designed to sync the game's frame rate with the monitor's refresh rate. In most cases, enabling this setting consumes a significant amount of resources, but it helps eliminate other errors. To enable Vsync, open the settings and find the option in the Graphics section.